Oh boy, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is stirring the pot again. This time, they’re holding back some of the cash from Arman Tsarukyan and Diego Lopes. Why, you ask? Well, let’s dive into the drama.
At UFC 300, which was a blast, by the way, Tsarukyan decided to throw a punch. Not at his opponent, but at a fan during his walk to the cage. Yep, you heard that right. Because of this, the NSAC is keeping 20 percent of his purse. That’s a hefty $31,600 out of his $158,000. Ouch.
On the flip side, Lopes got a bit too excited after his win against Sodiq Yusuff. The guy literally jumped out of the cage to celebrate. Consequently, the NSAC is withholding five percent of his purse, which amounts to $5,000 from his $100,000. Both fighters are now on the hook for a disciplinary hearing. Maybe on May 31? We’ll see.
The whole shebang took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13. And let me tell you, it was something.
Tsarukyan’s reason for the punch? A fan flipped him off. His response? “He showed me f—k you and wanted to punch me, and I wanted to punch him back, that’s it,” Tsarukyan explained. He’s got a point, though. Respect is key, folks.
But wait, there’s a twist. The fan actually apologized to Tsarukyan later on. And guess what? He doesn’t want to press charges. Jeff Mullen, the NSAC executive director, confirmed this little tidbit.
And Tsarukyan? He managed to snag a win against Charles Oliveira via split decision at UFC 300. Not too shabby.
Now, about Lopes. The guy seemed to have gotten a nod from UFC CEO Dana White before his cage-leaping celebration. And here’s the kicker: White’s gonna cover Lopes’ fine. Talk about having your back.
So, what’s the moral of the story? Well, in the world of MMA, expect the unexpected. And maybe, just maybe, keep your fists to yourself unless you’re in the octagon.