Justin Gaethje has made one thing perfectly clear: he is not accepting a truck from Arman Tsarukyan.
Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience, the newly crowned UFC lightweight champion addressed the story that has been making the rounds following his win over Ilia Topuria at the White House event.
Tsarukyan reportedly placed a $1 million bet on Gaethje to defeat Topuria and walked away with an estimated $5.7 million payday. In the aftermath, word spread that Tsarukyan planned to buy Gaethje a truck as a thank-you gesture. But according to Gaethje, that offer is going nowhere.
“I’m not taking this truck from Arman,” Gaethje said bluntly. “There’s absolutely no way I would take a truck. He never shook my hand.”
Rogan challenged that stance, pointing out how unusual the situation sounded. The UFC commentator even suggested Gaethje compare the offer to the truck he currently drives.
After Gaethje revealed that he owns a Shelby Raptor, Rogan showed off his own vehicle, which features a patriotic USA-themed wrap done by Hennessey. Gaethje was impressed.
“I have a Shelby Raptor. Pretty dope,” Gaethje said. “But I think now that I’ve seen your truck, that will be my next truck.”
Even then, Rogan continued pushing for Tsarukyan to make the purchase. When asked why he would not simply accept the gift, Gaethje doubled down.
“No, I’m not taking the truck,” he said.
Rogan could not understand the resistance.
“What the f**k?” Rogan replied. “If I was Arman, I would force it down your throat. I would deliver it to your house and give you a hug.”
For Gaethje, however, the issue came back to a simple principle: there was never an agreement.
“No way,” Gaethje explained. “I’m gonna have to ride around in a truck that a dude bought for me every day. I don’t know. I just can’t. We didn’t shake on it.”
Still trying to convince him, Rogan offered one final argument.
“I don’t give a d*mn,” Rogan said. “Take that godd*mn truck. First of all, it’s cool.”
The conversation then took an interesting turn when Rogan pointed out that Tsarukyan may soon be standing across from Gaethje inside the octagon rather than handing him the keys to a new truck.
“He might also be your next opponent,” Rogan noted. “That’s the guy,” he said. “I mean, if there’s anybody else in the division, that is the guy.”
