Tsarukyan is going all in on the
UFC White House headliner.
Interim champion Justin
Gaethje (27-5) challenges Ilia
Topuria (17-0) to unify the lightweight belts on June 14 at the
White House. Sportsbooks and experts have prognosticated that the
reach and prominence of these bouts may break single-event MMA
betting records. Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight
contender Arman
Tsarukyan is contributing his own share to the pot, to the tune
of $1 million.
Tip the dealer
The Armenian by way of Russia has put down a million dollars on the
bout between Topuria and Gaethje. Recording himself on video
placing the bet with +570 underdog odds, Tsarukyan has put it all
on Gaethje to win. Should “The Highlight” get the job done on
Sunday, Tsarukyan can clear $5 million on this bet alone. He posted
a screenshot of
his betting slip on social media, while promising Gaethje he
will buy him a new truck should he defeat Topuria.
Tsarukyan has developed a little animosity towards Topuria, who in
return has long been dismissing him as the most deserving
lightweight title contender. Tsarukyan was sidelined from the title
picture after pulling out of a title shot against then-champion
Islam
Makhachev last year. Topuria won the vacant belt against
Charles
Oliveira when Makhachev moved up to welterweight. While
Tsarukyan was still widely considered the most deserving contender,
Topuria wanted to defend against Paddy
Pimblett instead. However, Tsarukyan was sidelined again after
Gaethje defeated Pimblett for the interim strap.
The UFC has yet to comment on this video, which could be sponsored
content or another form of advertising for the service of Jack.com
and not necessarily a real bet. If legitimate, Tsarukyan may run
afoul of the UFC’s betting integrity policy that prohibits fighters
from any sports betting altogether, especially MMA.