Gaethie rejects Tsarukyan's pickup truck gift, Arman to raffle it off instead

A public gift-giving dispute between two lightweights spilled into social media this week after Justin Gaethje rejected a pickup truck that Arman Tsarukyan had purchased for him as a goodwill gesture following a bet.

Gaethje made his position clear on the Joe Rogan podcast, stating he would not accept a vehicle from someone he never made a handshake deal with. Tsarukyan fired back during a livestream, revealing he had only learned of the refusal after the truck was already prepared for delivery — and that he had even confirmed the color preference with Gaethje's manager beforehand. Rather than return the vehicle, Tsarukyan announced he will raffle it off to his fans. He also made clear he is eager to settle matters inside the octagon, saying he cannot wait to beat Gaethje in their upcoming fight.

Tsarukyan, 29, enters that bout as the number-one ranked lightweight contender. The Russian representative of American Top Team carries a record of 23-3-0 and has established himself as one of the most well-rounded threats in the division. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox striker lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that makes him dangerous in all phases.

Why it matters

• The public friction adds an extra layer of tension to an already high-stakes lightweight matchup
• Tsarukyan is the division's top-ranked contender, meaning a win over a name like Gaethje would have significant title-picture implications
• The style contrast between Tsarukyan's wrestling-heavy, high-output approach and Gaethje's renowned striking presents a compelling matchup on paper
• The truck raffle keeps the story in the public eye and reinforces Tsarukyan's profile heading into the bout