Arman Tsarukyan has been shown on a livestream placing a massive $1 million bet on Justin Gaethje to defeat Ilia Topuria in their UFC Freedom 250 title unification clash.
Gaethje, the UFC interim Lightweight champion, is scheduled to face Topuria next weekend (Sun., June 14, 2026) on the White House’s South Lawn in Washington, D.C., as part of an event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Gaethje is described as the second-biggest underdog on the card, with betting odds listed between +450 and +540, and Tsarukyan’s wager was entered for a potential return of $5.7 million while on a livestream with Deen The Great and Adrien Broner.
“Every time Gaethje fought [as an underdog], everyone thought he’d lose, but he always wins,” Tsarukyan said during the segment, which also featured him suggesting, “We can put maybe like $50k?” and adding, “Bro, if my dad sees this,” as the bet amount climbed.
Tsarukyan is described as the No. 2-ranked Lightweight contender and is serving as the backup fighter for the UFC Freedom 250 main event. It is stated that the betting segment could be fake and that sportsbooks often produce fake bet slips. UFC’s updated Athlete Conduct Policy prohibits UFC fighters from wagering on any UFC match.
