Arman Tsarukyan Bet $1 Million on Gaethje, and the Lightweight Title Race Is Getting a RAM Truck Delivery!

HOLY MOLY, you guys. If you missed the UFC White House main event on Sunday, you missed a wild one, but Arman Tsarukyan sure didn't! Justin Gaethje, a massive underdog, went out there and absolutely laid a brutal beating on Ilia Topuria, forcing a corner stoppage in the fourth round. And guess who just made a cool $5.7 million because of it? Our man Tsarukyan, who didn't just win a massive bet, he's also making good on a pre-fight promise that's got the whole fight game buzzing!

The Payout and the Promise

Yeah, you heard that right. Tsarukyan put a staggering $1 million on Gaethje to win, and that paid out a sweet $5.7 million. But the money, as crazy as it sounds, isn't the only story. Tsarukyan, being the stand-up guy he is, had promised to buy Gaethje a RAM truck if he pulled off the upset. And he’s absolutely going to honor it!

“Of course,” Tsarukyan said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I just checked what color he wants... I'm competing on July 18 in St. Louis, and after St. Louis, I'm going to bring him a truck. RAM. And RAM is the UFC’s official sponsor, maybe they’re gonna give me discount 15 to 20%. If they don’t give me discount, it’s OK. It’s not that expensive.” How awesome is that? He even hit up Gaethje on social media to ask about the preferred color. Gaethje’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, is set to send over the exact color and model. So get ready, Justin, your new RAM is coming, just as soon as Tsarukyan finishes his wrestling match against Colby Covington at RAF 11 in St. Louis, Missouri on July 18.

Lightweight Title Race Blew Wide Open

But wait, there's more to this than just a massive payday and a sweet new truck. Gaethje's victory over Topuria has completely reset the lightweight division, and Arman Tsarukyan (23-3) is right at the front of the line. Remember, Tsarukyan has been sidelined from the title picture since he had to pull out of a scheduled title fight against Islam Makhachev last year. Topuria then went on to win the vacant title against Charles Oliveira after Makhachev moved up to welterweight. For a while, even though Tsarukyan was widely considered the most deserving title contender, Topuria kept pushing to defend against Paddy Pimblett. Fun fact: Pimblett actually lost an interim title fight against Gaethje. Now, with Topuria’s defeat, the lightweight title picture is wide open again, and Tsarukyan is the absolute frontrunner for the next shot at that strap.

So, what’s next? Tsarukyan's got that wrestling match in St. Louis on July 18, and then he’s on truck delivery duty. After that, all eyes are on the lightweight division. Will he finally get the title shot he deserves? You know we'll be glued to every update here at Seattle On Tap!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.