Gaethje refuses Tsarukyan truck gift after UFC White House win

Justin Gaethje has turned down a truck gift from Arman Tsarukyan, sparking a public war of words between the lightweight champion and the man likely next in line for a title shot.

The offer stemmed from Gaethje's upset win over Ilia Topuria at UFC White House earlier this month, where he forced the former champion to quit on the stool after four rounds. A friend of Tsarukyan's had wagered $1 million on Gaethje to pull off the victory, netting a reported $5.7 million return, and Tsarukyan pledged to buy the new champion a truck as a thank-you.

But Gaethje shot down the gesture during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. "I'm not taking this truck from f*cking Arman," he said, per MMA Fighting. "There's absolutely no way I would take a truck. I'm going to have to ride around in a f*cking truck that a dude bought for me every day? I don't know, I just can't go there. We didn't shake on it, he does not owe it to me."

Tsarukyan fires back after rejection

Tsarukyan responded with a series of heated comments on Nina Drama's Kick stream, as first reported by MMA Mania. "If you don't want it, f*ck you," he said. "Say 'thank you' instead of being rude, like what the f*ck? I give you the truck, we bought the truck, you're saying, 'I'm not even going to drive it,' why are you such an assh*le?" The Armenian contender added that he plans to give the truck to a fan instead and promised to make Gaethje pay in the cage.

Tsarukyan is riding a five-fight win streak and has long been positioned as the top lightweight contender, though injuries and disputes with UFC management have delayed his title shot. He's stayed active competing for the RAF freestyle wrestling promotion on an almost monthly basis.

Gaethje acknowledged on the Rogan podcast that Tsarukyan is the logical next challenger for his newly won undisputed lightweight championship, though no bout agreement has been announced.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Justin Gaethje refuses Arman Tsarukyan’s truck gift, Tsarukyan responds: ‘If you don’t want it, f*ck you’ | MMA Fighting
• mmamania.com — Truck you! ‘Shocked’ Arman slams ‘a-hole’ Justin Gaethje for rejecting UFC White House gambling gift | MMA Mania