Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is treating UFC fighters like Taylor Reese treats convenience store poker machines. No. 1-ranked lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, was docked $31,600 for his fan altercation at UFC 300 earlier this month in Las Vegas, according to MMA Fighting, 20 percent of his total payout of $158,000.
Tsarukyan defeated Charles Oliveira by split decision.
Also in hot water for UFC 300 rule breaking is featherweight phenom Diego Lopes. The Brazilian crushed veteran bruiser Sodiq Yusuff, then celebrated by jumping over the cage — a big no-no in the aftermath of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s butt bomb from 2018. As a result, Lopes will hand over $5,000 from his $100,000 purse.
Tsarukyan and Lopes will return for a formal hearing later next month.
As for Igor Severino, who was booted from the promotion after biting Andre Lima at UFC Vegas 89, NSAC officials could not agree on the proposed suspension of six months and will reconvene next month to try again. As it stands, the 21 year-old flyweight is already on the hook for $3314.08.
The temporary fines issued to Tsarukyan and Lopes may be reduced, or eliminated completely, when the commission holds its disciplinary hearing in May. Both fighters remain unbooked at the time of this writing and are expected to make their Octagon returns at some point later this year.