Islam Makhachev & Arman Tsarukyan Get $50,000 FOTN… Dillon Danis Deletes Tweet

“Dagestani fighter Islam Makhachev narrowly escaped an upset defeat at the hands of UFC debutant Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event of Fight Night 149 in St. Petersburg, Russia.”

And yet, a few commenters have ventured to argue that the main event featuring Alistair Overeem knocking out Aleksei Oleinik was more deserving of a $50,000 fight-of-the-night bonus for each athlete.

Krasnodar-based Tsarukyan was abruptly signed by the UFC to a four-fight contract in March and was given approximately four weeks to prepare to face Makhachev. His nutritionist revealed that the 22-year-old had to lose an unbelievable 15 kilograms (33 pounds) to make it to Makhachev’s lightweight class.

Despite the tight schedule, the ethnically Armenian fighter with a Russian passport reportedly found time to visit Dagestan on April 10 on a non-training trip for a special Dagestani gift.

Tsarukyan was an underdog in Western betting circles, yet the result of his UFC bout at Yubileyny Sports Palace on April 20 shocked those who have followed Tsarukyan’s career over the years. Immediately afterwards, never-before-seen photos and videos started emerging on social media.

It seems that a few Armenian fan accounts had sat on some curious bits of information, which they released in dismay after the apparent defeat of their favorite fighter.

Makhachev Tsarukyan friends

One photo in particular must sting for half-Armenian fighter Dillon Danis who was infamously attacked without consequence by Makhachev during the UFC 229 brawl in October last year. Danis was fined and suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for defending himself, even as Makhachev to date has not once been cited for his physical violence towards Danis.

Danis had tweeted high praise for his fellow Armenian right after Tsarukyan’s performance yesterday. Within a few hours after the above photo was made public, Danis deleted his tweet.

Coincidentally, the name “Arman” means “man of Christ” in the Armenian language, and the annual remembrance day of the massacre of 1.5 million Armenian Christians is on Wednesday, April 24.

Islam Makhachev’s pay structure

$20,000 to show
$20,000 win bonus
$50,000 Fight of the Night bonus
$5,000 fight week incentive pay

Total: $95,000

Arman Tsarukyan’s pay structure

$10,000 to show
$50,000 Fight of the Night bonus
$3,500 fight week incentive pay

Total: $63,500

What principles would you sacrifice and whose trust would you break for a four-fight contract and a whole lot of extra dollars?