Justin Gaethje revealed during the post-bout press conference following UFC at the White House that a friend of Arman Tsarukyan had won big betting on his upset victory over Ilia Topuria, and that a brand-new truck might be headed his way because of it.
When asked about the massive wager, Dana White and Justin Gaethje confirmed that someone close to Tsarukyan had indeed cashed in on the result.
“[Arman’s] His buddy bet. Yeah, his buddy bet. And his buddy made some cheddar,” Gaethje said.
The winning wager was reportedly worth $5.7 million and was initially believed to have been placed on Polymarket. White later clarified that the bet had actually been made through a different platform.
“Jack.com. They got jacked tonight,” he quipped.
The conversation then took an amusing turn when a reporter reminded Gaethje that Tsarukyan had promised during the broadcast announcing the bet that he would buy the former interim champion a truck if he defeated Topuria.
Asked what kind of truck he wanted, Gaethje struggled to answer what he wanted. When Dana White suggested that he should get a Ram, Gaethje immediately agreed.
“I’ll take a Ram,” he said. “I am due for a new truck. My truck is a 2020. I bought it when I beat Tony Ferguson. And it’s got about 65,000 miles on it. So, send it.”
Entering the bout as a sizable underdog against the previously undefeated lightweight champion, Gaethje delivered a surprising performance that earned him both Fig ht of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, adding up to $825,000.
The victory did not come easily. Speaking about the damage he absorbed throughout the match, particularly to the body, Gaethje admitted he was still feeling the effects during the press conference.
“My liver still hurts right now,” he said. “The body sh0ts were crazy. I mean, he was really, really fast.”
Despite enduring significant punishment, Gaethje was able to shift the momentum late in the contest. Reflecting on the turning point, he said, “When I started landing those jabs, when he started finding his back foot, I knew something was different.”
Gaethje also embraced his role as an underdog, noting that it has been a recurring theme throughout his UFC career.
“I’ve been a hundred dollars underdog at least 11 or 12 times in the UFC every single match almost,” he said. “So I’m 9-2 as an underdog so I love being in this position.”
With a career-defining victory secured and the possibility of a new truck arriving courtesy of Tsarukyan’s friend’s massive payday, Gaethje appeared content to enjoy the moment.
