Arman Tsarukyan says his UFC pay has doubled following the $7.7 billion Paramount deal

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Arman Tsarukyan has claimed that all UFC fighters have received a pay rise in 2026.

MMA’s top promotion recently signed a seven-year deal with Paramount, valued at $7.7 billion.

Before Justin Gaethje raised doubts by saying he didn’t earn anything extra for his fight with Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 in January, Dana White had already promised that fighter pay would go up thanks to the new TV contract.

Arman Tsarukyan opens up about fighter pay during chat with Ryan Garcia

Arman Tsarukyan linked up with boxing star Ryan Garcia earlier this week, and the conversation quickly turned to fighter pay.

The WBC welterweight champion wanted to know if UFC fighters should be earning more under Dana White.

“MMA fighters have gotta be paid more, but medium fighters, they get paid more than in boxing,” Tsarukyan responded.

“Guys like you get paid five times more than a UFC champion, but if there is a medium fighter, who is top 10 or 12, he’s earning more than boxing guys. In boxing, it’s only the big names who get paid.”

Towards the end of their chat, Tsarukyan explained how the $7.7 billion deal with Paramount has already started to change things for fighters.

“They’ve already started paying more because of the new deal. Now, they’ve changed all deals. Guys are getting more money, even me. We re-signed my contract.

Tsarukyan also claimed that champions are starting to see bigger paydays as well.

“Other guys, the champions, they get more pay. For example, if they got paid $2 million, now they get $4 million. It’s still not the same money as boxing. In three or four years, it’s gonna change, for sure.

“It cannot stay like this. If you’re a UFC champion and you defend your title, you gotta make $10 million at least.”

Arman Tsarukyan isn’t scheduled to fight, but he has a grappling match

It’s not yet known when Arman Tsarukyan will be back in the UFC Octagon.

But in the meantime, the number one lightweight contender is staying active through grappling matches.

His next outing is against UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, set for the co-main event of RAF 8 on April 18.

The main event features Merab Dvalishvili taking on Henry Cejudo, with the event scheduled for Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.