UFC fighter Tsarukyan suspended after punching fan

UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan was issued a nine-month suspension after throwing punches at an audience member at UFC 300.

Tsarukyan has been suspended until January12, 2025 and fined $25,000. Tsarukyan must also pay a $471.12 prosecution fee taken from $31,600 already withheld by the commission.

An incident with a fan may jeopardize Arman Tsarukyan's plans to fight for the UFC lightweight title.

Tsarukyan threw punches at a fan who flipped him off during his walkout at UFC 300 in April. The physical altercation occurred minutes before Tsarukyan's title eliminator with Charles Oliveira, a fight Tsarukyan won via split decision. 

The Nevada State Athletic Commission stated the incident "could have been catastrophic for everyone involved," and that "this is a one-time offer. Repeat actions will be dealt with much more severely."

Tsarukyan can remedy his timeline by making an anti-bullying PSA, which the commission said will reduce his suspension to six months. A reduced six-month suspension makes Tsarukyan available to compete after October 12.

A nine-month suspension is troublesome considering Tsarukyan had expected to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title by the end of 2024. Tsarukyan was offered a short-notice title fight at UFC 302 immediately after defeating Oliveira but declined to make the six-week turnaround in favor of a fight down the line.