UFC News: Over $36,000 Lost As Arman Tsarukyan & Diego Lopes Pay Dearly for UFC 300 Antics

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has come down hard on UFC fighters, Diego Lopes and Arman Tsarukyan for their respective recent violations of its rules. Tsarukyan faced Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tsarukyan won the fight via a split decision.

And while the Armenian fighter emerged victorious, and the number one contender for the lightweight bout, he assaulted a fan. On the other hand, Lopes’s violation was significantly less violent, but still against the rules. Nonetheless, the NSAC has decided to fine both fighters.

Arman Tsarukyan fined 20% of UFC 300 purse

En route to the octagon at the UFC’s 300th PPV anniversary mega-card, Arman Tsarukyan was accosted by an audience member in the stands, who flipped him off. Tsarukyan was so offended at this disrespectful gesture that he proceeded to throw a punch at the fan.

UFC CEO Dana White remarked in the post-fight press conference that the promotion would probably be sued by the aggrieved spectator, and advised fans not to provoke the fighters since they are pumped up and in a heightened state of emotion walking out to the octagon.

The night was a glowing success for the Armenian, with him having secured a shot at the winner of the upcoming UFC 302 title clash between champion Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier. But the NSAC is penalizing Tsarukyan $31,600, or 20% of his $158,000 purse for assaulting the fan. Diego Lopes, on the other hand, got off much lighter.

Diego Lopes was fined for jumping out of the octagon

Diego Lopes, too, had a fantastic night in his last UFC outing. The Brazilian fighter defeated Sodiq Yusuff in his third consecutive first-round finish in the promotion. While the featherweight fighter has lost one of his four fights in the UFC, it was on his promotional debut and against future title contender, Movsar Evolev.

And with his impressive performance last night, he seems well en route towards a title shot himself. Ranked #14 coming into the bout, Lopes would, at the very least, find himself ranked closer to the top-10. In addition, a fight against a top-10-ranked opponent seems the logical next step. And in a top-heavy-but-otherwise-sparse featherweight division, it may not be long after it that he finds himself fighting for the title.

Lopes was understandably ecstatic at the win, which caused him to jump over the cage and celebrate with the fans. Thus action is against the NSAC’s rules. Therefore Lopes was fined $5000 which is 5% of his $100,000 purse.​ What are your thoughts on the NSAC imposing penalties on Tsarukyan and Lopes?