Arman Tsarukyan and Diego Lopes have both had their pay withheld as they face potential discipline after UFC 300 alterations.
Arman Tsarukyan Has Pay Withheld
Last Tuesday the Nevada State Athletic Commission held a meeting. During the meeting, details were revealed about the purses and how much money would be withheld from fighters involved in alterations. Their pay is getting kept back until a disciplinary meeting can take place. This will happen in May.
According to a report which was read by Nevada Deputy Attorney General Matthew Feeley, Arman Tsarukyan earned $158,000. This was for his split decision victory over Charles Oliveira. However, $31,600 of his pay will be withheld until this hearing takes place which equates to 20% of his purse.
Arman Tsarukyan is having this meeting as he is facing punishment due to getting involved in an altercation with a fan. This altercation took place as he was walking out to get inside the octagon at UFC 300. The commission has noted that the fan involved in this altercation has opted not to press charges against Arman Tsarukyan.
Arman Tsarukyan Incident
At the UFC 300 post-fight press conference Arman Tsarukyan was able to address the incident. During the press conference, Arman Tsarukyan revealed the fan had flipped him off with his middle fighter, which caused him to throw a punch at the fan.
“He showed me ‘F*ck you’ and he wanted to punch me and I wanted to punch him back,” Tsarukyan said. “That’s it. So guys, no one show me ‘F*ck you.’ It doesn’t matter who you are, I’m going to punch you in the face. You can show me ‘F*ck’ from like 200 meters, I’m not going to punch you. But when you’re close to me, it’s, like automatically, I’m from Russia. Don’t do that, please, or I’m going to go to prison in U.S.”
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has agreed to continue to hold the $31,600 from Arman Tsarukyan’s purse. This is until they can have a full hearing which will happen in May.
Diego Lopes Also Punished
However, with Diego Lopes, he earned $100,000 for his first-round knockout victory over Sodiq Yusuff and the commission has withheld $5,000 from his purse. This was after Lopez jumped into the crowd following his win.
One of the commissioners, who was attending the event did note that Lopes climbed to the top of the cage and motioned to UFC CEO Dana White about jumping outside the octagon. This commissioner has claimed Dana White then invited him down with the UFC executive stating that he would pay the fine.
“I will pay his fine.”
As a result of this incident, he has had his purse withheld. $5,000 of Lopes’s pay cheque will remain on hold. Just like with Arman Tsarukyan, this is until a hearing happens in May.
The commissioners have also asked for video evidence, this is regarding the incident involving Tsarukyan. They have asked for the video so they can review it before giving out any punishment.
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images & Embed from Getty Images
