Arman Tsarukyan took a jab at Khamzat Chimaev's wrestling background during a recent exchange. Tsarukyan sarcastically highlighted that Chimaev is a four-time Swedish wrestling champion. Chimaev responded defensively, telling Tsarukyan to leave and pointing out that Tsarukyan himself has never been a wrestling champion. The exchange was shared via Tsarukyan's social media. Details beyond this brief back-and-forth are limited in the post.
Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev traded barbs on social media, with the lightweight contender taking a pointed shot at Chimaev's wrestling résumé in an exchange shared through Tsarukyan's accounts on April 15.
Tsarukyan, ranked first in the UFC lightweight division at 29 years old, used sarcasm to highlight that Chimaev holds four Swedish wrestling championships — framing the credential as less impressive than it might sound. The Russian-born fighter out of American Top Team carries a 23-3 record and has established himself as one of the most dangerous contenders in the 155-pound weight class, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute and 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his UFC career.
Chimaev fired back, telling Tsarukyan to back off and noting that Tsarukyan has never won a wrestling championship of any kind. The Chechen-born fighter, who now represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center in Stockholm, is ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Carrying a 15-1 record at 32 years old, Chimaev has built a reputation as one of the most physically dominant fighters in the sport, posting a striking accuracy of 60 percent and an imposing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Chimaev and Tsarukyan compete in different weight classes, making any fight between them unlikely without a division change
- The exchange draws attention to Chimaev's wrestling pedigree, which has been a cornerstone of his rise through the UFC ranks
- Both men hold the number-one contender spot in their respective divisions, keeping both names prominent in the broader pound-for-pound conversation
