Two UFC fighters, Arman Tsarukyan and Diego Lopes, had a portion of their UFC 300 fight purses withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Tsarukyan was involved in an incident where he appeared to attempt to strike a fan in the crowd during his walkout at UFC 300, while Lopes jumped over the cage to speak to UFC CEO Dana White after his win on that fight card. The Commission discussed both cases during a recent meeting.
The fan who was allegedly flipped off by Tsarukyan during his walkout later apologized for his actions, which the Commission took into consideration when discussing the incident. Tsarukyan’s purse for UFC 300 was $158,000, and the Commission decided to withhold 20 percent of that amount pending resolution of the case. The Commission expressed concerns about setting a precedent regarding combat sports athletes engaging with members of the crowd and will discuss Tsarukyan’s case at a future meeting.
Lopes, who won his UFC 300 bout against Sodiq Yusuff by first-round knockout, celebrated his victory by jumping over the cage to meet with Dana White. Lopes’ purse for the fight was $100,000, and the Commission withheld $5,000 pending the resolution of the case. Lopes had reportedly been warned before his fight not to leave the fighting surface, and the NSAC will further discuss his case in a future meeting, noting that White may pay his fine.
In addition to Tsarukyan and Lopes, the NSAC also held the case of former UFC fighter Igor Severino, who bit his opponent Andre Lima during a March 23 UFC event at the UFC Apex. Severino was disqualified for his actions and subsequently released by the UFC. The Commission withheld Severino’s fight purse of $10,000 pending the outcome of a hearing, as they did not approve the suggested resolution of $3,000 in fines and a six-month suspension. The NSAC wanted more time to discuss an appropriate punishment for Severino’s actions.
The NSAC has scheduled future meetings to further discuss the cases of Tsarukyan, Lopes, and Severino, as well as any potential resolutions and punishments. These incidents highlight the importance of athlete conduct both inside and outside of the Octagon, as well as the role of governing bodies in regulating and enforcing disciplinary measures in combat sports. Fans and fighters alike will be watching closely to see how these cases unfold and what impact they may have on future UFC events.
