JUSTIN GAETHJE REJECTS $1.5M OFFER TO ADD YOUTUBER TO CORNER

Aaron Steinberg, known as Steiny and a member of the Nelk Boys, offered UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje as much as $1.5 million to join his corner for a fight, according to comments made on Steinberg's podcast, One Night With Steiny. Steinberg raised the sum in stages, reaching $1.1 million, an offer Gaethje said he "would ponder" and "think about." When Steinberg tried to close the deal at that figure, Gaethje declined, prompting Steinberg to raise the offer to $1.5 million, which Gaethje also turned down. Gaethje said he does not make deals of that kind and would refuse even $100 million, adding that he takes his job seriously and already has a team in place.

Steinberg had raised the idea after referencing an entrance by fellow lightweight fighter Arman Tsarukyan, who brought internet personality N3ON out with him at UFC 331, asking Gaethje whether he would consider something similar. According to the report, Gaethje has worked with head coach Trevor Wittman and longtime coach Luke Caudillo since turning professional in 2011 and has rarely changed his core coaching staff since. Tsarukyan's set-up differs, the report said: he began his UFC career training at American Top Team, has since brought in Khamzat Chimaev as a training partner, and added kickboxer Giorgio Petrosyan to his corner to help prepare for his fight against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. Joe Rogan was reported to have reacted positively to seeing Petrosyan in Tsarukyan's corner.

The report characterised Tsarukyan's coaching arrangement as more open than Gaethje's, which it said allowed N3ON to secure a place at his side that Steinberg could not secure with Gaethje. The report also stated that Gaethje is not the only fighter to have recently turned down a large financial offer, without providing further detail on that claim. No fight date or opponent was specified in connection with Steinberg's approach to Gaethje.