UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has pulled back the curtain on the financial realities of fighting in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization. In a recent interview, he revealed that even six-figure paydays can disappear quickly once all the cuts are taken.
The 29-year-old disclosed that he earns approximately $300,000 for a UFC victory, but after accounting for taxes, training expenses, and management fees, he’s left with little to nothing.
“Well, let’s say, if you lost, you earned something like 100. How much tax will you pay from this immediately? 70%. Well, 16 30 30. Well, 30 is not bad. Then the trainer ends up cutting off almost 50%. Five for the gym, five for the trainers, 15 managers, 2-3 months of preparation and you break even,” Tsarukyan explained.
The breakdown is sobering: 30% goes to taxes, 5% to his gym, 5% to trainers, and 15% to his management team.
After two to three months of training camp expenses, Tsarukyan says he essentially breaks even. The revelation came when discussing his compensation for stepping in as a replacement fighter, which he said barely covered his camp and living expenses in America for two months.
“Zero even came out. Minus a little bit,” he admitted.
This financial reality stands in stark contrast to the perception many have of UFC fighters’ earnings. Tsarukyan emphasized that his real income comes from sponsorships and contracts rather than fight purses alone.
“That is, people and then you look, say, yes, I say, look how someone boxes for a lot of money, look at Canelo 125 million dollars,” he said, comparing MMA payouts to boxing’s more lucrative structure.
The Armenian-born star, who has competed in 11 UFC bouts without ever pulling out of a fight, believes his financial situation will improve significantly once he captures championship gold.
“I just don’t look at it, that’s why I don’t earn much now. I know that I will earn big money when I become champion,” Tsarukyan stated confidently.
Despite the financial challenges, Tsarukyan maintains an intense training regimen, sometimes completing up to 12 training sessions per week with two or three sessions daily. He supplements his income through real estate investments, primarily in Krasnodar, Russia, viewing property as the strongest currency for storing wealth.
