NAC withholds earnings from two UFC 300 winners; hearings scheduled
Nevada has withheld earnings from two UFC 300 winners, pending an upcoming commission meeting.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and featherweight contender Diego Lopes will have hearings “on withholding of purse” Tuesday in Las Vegas at the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) monthly meeting.
While the commission did not reveal details as to why the hearings were happening, people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of more details.
Tsarukyan faces the commission after multiple cameras, including the ESPN broadcast, picked him up punching at a fan during his entrance to the cage during the April 13 pay-per-view main card at T-Mobile Arena. MMA reporter John Morgan first reported the reason for the hearing.
After his split decision win over Charles Oliveira, Tsarukyan explained emotions got the best of him after he saw the fan give him the middle finger. In the days that followed, the fan came forward and apologized for the incident.
Lopes’ hearing centers around his scaling of the cage after his first-round TKO victory over Sodiq Yusuff. Lopes appeared to seek, and receive, permission from UFC CEO Dana White before he hopped over the fence to chat.
The NAC did not withhold the full amounts, but rather a percentage of each fighter’s purse, sources said. If the fighters are fined less than that percentage, they will be paid the difference. If they be fined more, they fighters will have to present the funds before applying for re-licensure.
The NSAC has scheduled a hearing for Diego Lopes at Tuesday’s monthly commission meeting to discuss the withholding of his #UFC300 purse.
Sources say the NSAC took issue with Lopes hopping the cage after victory.
Lopes appeared to ask (and receive) permission from UFC CEO Dana… https://t.co/4JLxKZFac5
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) April 26, 2024
One non-UFC 300 competitor also will have a similar hearing Tuesday. Igor Severino, the fighter who bit opponent Andre Lima mid-fight and was released by the UFC, will go before the commission for potential disciplinary action. The language on Severino’s agenda item listing indicates a resolution could be proposed and voted on.
Severino apologized repeatedly for the bite and asked for forgiveness in an interview with MMA Junkie. Severino also noted that he and family members, including his mother, have received death threats since the foul. Severino and Lima have since become friends despite the incident.