Arman Tsarukyan punched a fan during his
walkout to fight Charles Oliveira 😅 pic.twitter.com/DMoX27o8H1— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch)
April 14, 2024
Arman
Tsarukyan is facing sanctions for his altercation with a fan
during his walkout at UFC
300.
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The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced during its monthly
meeting on Tuesday that Tsarukyan has been fined $25,000 and
suspended nine months for throwing a punch at a fan on his way to
the Octagon at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13. The
suspension can be reduced to six months if Tsarukyan releases an
anti-bullying message that is approved by the NSAC.
Tsarukyan defeated Charles
Oliveira via split decision at UFC 300 to earn his fourth
consecutive victory in what was deemed to be a title eliminator
bout. Tsarukyan later claimed that he threw the punch because a fan
flipped him the bird during his walkout.
“He showed me f—k you [flipped the bird] and wanted to punch me,
and I wanted to punch him back, that’s it,” Tsarukyan said at the
post-fight press conference. “So guys, like no one show me f—k you.
Doesn’t matter who you are, I’m going to punch you in the face. You
can show me f—k from like 200 meters, I’m not going to punch you.
But when you’re close to me, it’s like automatically, I’m like from
Russia. Like don’t do that, please, or I’m going to go to the
prison in U.S.”
If Tsarukyan’s anti-bullying message receives approval, he will be
eligible to return to active competition on Oct. 12. Otherwise, he
is suspended until Jan. 12, 2025. Tsarukyan is expected to receive
a lightweight title shot against Islam
Makhachev as a result of his latest victory.