Arman Tsarukyan Claims Big Win with $5.7 Million Payout

Arman Tsarukyan, the UFC Lightweight contender, claims to have won over $5 million after betting $1 million on Justin Gaethje to beat Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event.

What happened?

The main event between Topuria and Gaethje ended between rounds 4 and 5 when Topuria was unable to continue, declaring Gaethje the winner.

Tsarukyan claimed on a livestream that he had bet $1 million on the fight, which would have resulted in a $5.7 million payout.

Can UFC fighters bet on fights?

In October 2022, the UFC updated its Athlete Conduct Policy to ban all fighters and their teams from wagering on any UFC-promoted event.

Prior to this, fighters were permitted to bet on fights as long as they were not betting against themselves.

Controversy surrounding the bet

UFC President Dana White reportedly claimed that Tsarukyan himself didn't actually place the bet, but rather one of his buddies did.

Speaking on the Full Send podcast, White said “it is one of his buddies that bet. One of his buddies bet $1 million on Gaethje.”

The UFC White House event took place over the weekend, with Gaethje being declared the winner.

Tsarukyan's claim has sparked controversy over the UFC's betting rules and whether fighters should be allowed to bet on fights.

What's next for Arman Tsarukyan?

The outcome of this event and the controversy surrounding the bet remain to be seen, with Tsarukyan's next move uncertain.

The UFC Lightweight contender will likely face scrutiny over his claim, with many questioning the validity of his statement.

As the situation unfolds, fans and critics alike will be watching to see how the UFC responds to the controversy, on 18 Jun.