Arman Tsarukyan had arranged to gift Justin Gaethje a pickup truck after winning a bet, but Gaethje publicly refused the offer on the Joe Rogan podcast, saying he would not accept a truck from Tsarukyan as no handshake deal was made. Tsarukyan responded by announcing he will instead raffle the vehicle off to his followers. Tsarukyan also made clear he is eager to face Gaethje in the cage.
What began as a post-bet gesture of goodwill has turned into a public giveaway, after lightweight champion Justin Gaethje declined a pickup truck that Arman Tsarukyan had intended to gift him following a wager between the two fighters.
Tsarukyan had arranged to hand the vehicle over to Gaethje as part of a bet he lost, but Gaethje pushed back on the offer publicly during an appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, stating he would not accept the truck on the grounds that no formal handshake deal had been made. Tsarukyan responded by announcing he will raffle the pickup off to his followers instead. The Armenian-Russian contender also made clear he is keen to settle things with Gaethje inside the cage.
Gaethje, 37, holds the UFC lightweight title and carries a record of 28-5-0. Fighting out of Genesis Training Center, the Arizona native is one of the most prolific strikers in the division, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His reach measures 70 inches.
Tsarukyan, 29, sits at the top of the lightweight rankings at number one contender with a 23-3-0 record. The Russia-born fighter trains at American Top Team and brings a notably different skill set to the table, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 72-inch reach that extends two inches beyond the champion's. His record of submission attempts adds a further dimension to his grappling threat.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, making a fight with champion Gaethje the most logical next step in the division.
- The public back-and-forth adds a personal edge to what was already a compelling stylistic matchup between a high-volume striker and an elite wrestler.
- Gaethje's refusal of the truck and Tsarukyan's pivot to a fan raffle keeps both fighters in the public conversation ahead of any potential booking.
