Justin Gaethje may not have a fight booked with Arman Tsarukyan yet, but the two lightweight stars are already trading shots outside the Octagon.
Fresh off his stunning victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, Justin Gaethje appeared to be on good terms with Tsarukyan after one of the Armenian fighter’s friends reportedly won big by betting $1 million on Gaethje to pull off the upset. The wager reportedly returned more than $5 million, prompting Tsarukyan to offer Gaethje a truck as a reward for delivering one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
However, Justin Gaethje quickly shut down the idea. Speaking during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, the newly crowned UFC lightweight champion made it clear that he had no interest in accepting the gift.
“I’m not taking this truck from fcking Arman,” Gaethje said. “There’s absolutely no way I would take a truck. I’m going to have to ride around in a fcking truck that a dude bought for me every day. I just can’t go there. We didn’t shake on it, he does not owe it to me.”
While Gaethje seemed intent on politely declining the offer, Tsarukyan took the comments personally.
The top-ranked lightweight later revealed that he was surprised by Gaethje’s response and didn’t hold back when discussing the situation during a livestream with Nina Drama.
“Justin is saying, ‘I’m not going to take the car,'” Tsarukyan said. “Fck it, we’re not going to give it to him. He doesn’t want it, he doesn’t deserve that. Yesterday, I watched the video and I was shocked. If you don’t want it, fck you.”
Tsarukyan added that the truck would now be given away to one of his fans instead. The lightweight contender also suggested that the disagreement has added extra motivation if the two eventually meet inside the Octagon.
“I’m going to fck him up in the fight,” Tsarukyan said. “I can’t wait. You’re saying you don’t want my truck and you’re not going to drive it, so fck you. Say ‘thank you’ instead of being rude. We already got the truck.”
“Fck you, Justin. I can’t wait to whoop your ass,” he continued. “If you don’t need it, give it to your friends, family or somebody who needs it. Why are you such an asshle?”
Despite the heated exchange, a showdown between Justin Gaethje and Tsarukyan appears increasingly likely.
Tsarukyan enters the conversation riding a five-fight winning streak and has lost only twice in 12 UFC appearances. His defeats came against former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in his UFC debut and a narrow split-decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot. Injuries and failed title opportunities have kept him from securing a championship fight, but many view him as the clear No. 1 contender.
For his part, Justin Gaethje agrees.After capturing the undisputed lightweight title with his dominant win over Topuria, Gaethje acknowledged that Tsarukyan is the most deserving challenger waiting in line.
“He is definitely the guy that’s up for the next title shot,” Gaethje said. “I agree.”
With tensions already building between the two fighters, the UFC may have found its next blockbuster lightweight title fight. Whether it’s about championship gold or a rejected truck, Justin Gaethje and Arman Tsarukyan now have plenty of reasons to settle their differences inside the cage.
