Arman Tsarukyan publicly ridiculed Khamzat Chimaev's wrestling achievements in Sweden during an exchange posted on social media. Tsarukyan sarcastically referred to Chimaev as a four-time Swedish wrestling champion. Chimaev responded by telling Tsarukyan to leave and claiming that Tsarukyan was never a wrestling champion himself. The exchange was shared on Tsarukyan's social media accounts. The context suggests ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters, though no fight between them has been announced.
A social media exchange between Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev turned sharp this week when the lightweight contender publicly mocked Chimaev's wrestling résumé in Sweden, reigniting the verbal rivalry between two of the UFC's most dangerous fighters.
Tsarukyan, 29, is the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC and carries a 23-3 record fighting out of American Top Team. The Russian standout, known as "Ahalkalakets," stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on a well-rounded game that includes 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute. His sarcastic jab at Chimaev centered on the Chechen-born fighter's status as a Swedish wrestling champion, a credential Tsarukyan appeared to dismiss as unimpressive.
Chimaev fired back, telling Tsarukyan to leave and countering that the lightweight had never been a wrestling champion himself. The 32-year-old Borz, now representing the United Arab Emirates and training out of Allstars Training Center in Sweden, currently sits at number one in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 15-1 record. His wrestling credentials inside the octagon are well-documented — he averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — and his 60 percent striking accuracy ranks among the best in the promotion.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight, while Chimaev holds the same position at middleweight, meaning any future crossover would carry enormous divisional weight.
- Chimaev's elite wrestling has long been a defining factor in his dominance, making Tsarukyan's specific choice of target a pointed one.
- No fight between the two has been announced, and the exchange remains confined to social media for now.
