Arman Tsarukyan has publicly ridiculed Khamzat Chimaev's wrestling achievements in Sweden. Tsarukyan sarcastically referred to Chimaev as a four-time Swedish wrestling champion. Chimaev responded by telling Tsarukyan to leave and stating that he was never a wrestling champion himself. The exchange was shared on Tsarukyan's social media. This appears to be part of ongoing tensions between the two fighters.
Arman Tsarukyan took aim at Khamzat Chimaev on social media, publicly mocking the middleweight contender's wrestling background in Sweden in an exchange posted to Tsarukyan's accounts on April 15, 2026.
Tsarukyan, the 29-year-old Russian fighting out of American Top Team, leaned into sarcasm by referring to Chimaev as a "four-time Swedish wrestling champion" — a pointed jab at the credentials Chimaev built before establishing himself in MMA. Tsarukyan holds a 23-3-0 record and sits as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC, standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach. He averages 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute and completes 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a legitimate threat on both feet and on the mat.
Chimaev fired back, telling Tsarukyan to leave and noting that Tsarukyan was never a wrestling champion himself. The 32-year-old Chimaev, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains at Allstars Training Center, is ranked number one at middleweight and sits tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 15-1-0 record. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev is one of the most physically imposing fighters in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing his strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Chimaev compete in different weight classes, so any crossover bout would require a divisional move from one or both fighters.
- The public back-and-forth suggests genuine animosity, which could fuel a future matchup if either fighter shifts weight classes.
- Chimaev's wrestling pedigree has long been cited as a cornerstone of his fighting style, making Tsarukyan's mockery a deliberate attempt to get under his skin.
