Arman Tsarukyan and Merab Dvalishvili engaged in a lighthearted exchange on social media about a potential wrestling match. Merab claimed he would defeat Arman in wrestling, prompting Arman to ask about his weight. When Merab said he weighs 70 kg, Arman responded that he weighs the same and jokingly suggested he could beat Merab 10-7 in a wrestling bout. The playful banter highlights the friendly rivalry between the two fighters, both known for their grappling skills. Neither fighter specified if this was a serious callout or purely jest.
A lighthearted social media exchange between two of the UFC's most relentless grapplers turned into a moment of friendly one-upmanship, with lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan joking that he would beat bantamweight standout Merab Dvalishvili 10-7 in a hypothetical wrestling match.
The back-and-forth began when Dvalishvili declared he would defeat Tsarukyan in a wrestling bout. Tsarukyan asked about his weight, and when Dvalishvili confirmed he competes at around 70 kg, the lightweight fired back with a playful prediction of a 10-7 scoreline in his own favor. Neither fighter indicated whether the exchange carried any serious competitive intent.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," holds a 21-5 record and is ranked first in the bantamweight division and second pound-for-pound. The 35-year-old Georgian trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team and is widely regarded as one of the sport's elite wrestlers, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Tsarukyan, 29, represents Russia and trains at American Top Team. He carries a 23-3 record and sits as the number one contender in the lightweight division. Known for relentless pressure and sharp technique, he lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — strong numbers at 155 pounds.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are elite grapplers in their respective divisions, making even a joking wrestling challenge a credible topic of debate among fans
- Dvalishvili's takedown volume is among the highest in the entire UFC roster, giving his side of the argument real statistical weight
- The exchange keeps both fighters visible during what appears to be a quiet period in their respective booking situations
- A crossover or exhibition matchup between the two, however unlikely, would pit two of the organization's most celebrated wrestling-based styles against each other
