MMA Star's Shocking Confession About Fellow Fighter's Money Demand

Arman Tsarukyan was in the middle of a grueling training camp, the kind where every dollar spent on recovery and specialized coaching matters, when his phone lit up with a request that made him pause. The rising UFC lightweight contender, according to multiple sources close to the fighter, was asked to return a $40,000 payment he had received from boxer Ryan Garcia. The payment, initially characterized as a training fee for Garcia’s high-profile fight against Devin Haney last year, has now become the center of a quietly brewing financial dispute that reveals the often messy, handshake-deal nature of cross-sport training arrangements. The initial report of the request came from the MMA outlet Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight).

League sources confirm that Tsarukyan, who is preparing for a pivotal fight of his own, did indeed spend a week in Las Vegas working with Garcia ahead of the Haney bout. The $40,000 sum was agreed upon and delivered. For Tsarukyan, a fighter known for his disciplined, no-nonsense approach, the money was a significant side income, promptly reinvested into his own camp. Those close to the situation say the subsequent request for its return, which came well after the training concluded and Garcia had fought, was met with bewilderment. The reasons behind Garcia’s request remain unclear and unconfirmed; Garcia’s team has not publicly commented on the matter, and Tsarukyan has only alluded to it in interviews without detailing a resolution.

Why does this matter beyond locker room gossip? It casts a spotlight on the informal financial dealings that happen on the edges of major combat sports events. These arrangements, often made between athletes directly without the formal structure of promoter contracts, lack clear legal guardrails. For a fighter like Tsarukyan, whose UFC earnings are publicly known and regulated, an unexpected $40,000 clawback is not trivial—it can impact training partners, facility costs, and nutrition plans. It also introduces an unwelcome distraction during a critical fight camp, forcing a competitor to think about lawyers and bank transfers when his focus should be solely on his opponent.

What happens next is a waiting game. The front office at the UFC has been quietly made aware of the situation, as it involves one of their ranked contenders, but this is not a matter under their purview. It is a private financial disagreement. Unless one party decides to pursue legal action, this will likely play out behind closed doors through direct negotiation or intermediaries. For now, Tsarukyan’s immediate focus must remain on his upcoming fight, but the episode serves as a stark reminder to all fighters: even between stars, a handshake deal might need a contract to back it up. The uncertainty lies in whether this becomes a forgotten footnote or escalates into a public, and potentially litigious, rift between two of combat sports’ younger stars.

Source: https://x.com/Home_of_Fight/status/2044746171571175790