The Nevada State Athletic Commission issued a nine-month suspension to UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan for throwing punches at a fan in April.

The incident occurred during Tsarukyan’s walkout at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on April 13 when he got into a physical altercation with an audience member who flipped him off.

Tsarukyan was suspended through Jan. 12, 2025, and fined $25,000, according to combat sports reporter John Morgan.

The fine and a prosecution fee of $471.12 will be deducted from the $31,600 already withheld by the commission.

The commission said the incident “could have been catastrophic for everyone involved,” and that “repeat actions will be dealt with much more severely.”

Tsarukyan, 27, went on to defeat Charles Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300. It was his fourth straight victory and improved his record to 22-3.

CBS Sports reported Tsarukyan can reduce his suspension by making an anti-bullying public service announcement. Cutting his ban to six months would make him eligible to return after Oct. 12.

“Arman appreciates the NSAC’s dealings in this matter and looks forward to working with the UFC and NSAC to produce an anti-bullying PSA to reduce his suspension and competing for a UFC lightweight title before the end of the year,” Tsarukyan’s manager Daniel Rubenstein wrote in a statement to CBS Sports.

Tsarukyan had been hoping to fight Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title before the end of 2024.