Armenian lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan jokingly proposed a wrestling match against Georgian bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. During their exchange, Tsarukyan claimed he could defeat Dvalishvili with a 10-7 score in a wrestling contest. When Dvalishvili stated he would beat Tsarukyan in wrestling, Arman asked about his weight, to which Merab replied 70 kg, with Tsarukyan confirming he also weighs the same. The playful exchange highlights the competitive banter between fighters from neighboring countries in the Caucasus region.
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili engaged in a lighthearted social media exchange on April 22, with Tsarukyan playfully challenging Dvalishvili to a wrestling match and claiming he would win by a 10-7 score.
Tsarukyan, 29, fights out of American Top Team and carries a 23-3 record at lightweight, where he holds the number-one contender ranking. The Armenian-born Russian fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built a reputation as a well-rounded threat, landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy while averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," is the reigning UFC bantamweight champion and sits at number two in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 21-5 record. The 35-year-old Georgian, who trains with Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the most relentless grapplers in the sport, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He stands five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach.
The banter took a specific turn when Dvalishvili insisted he would have the better of Tsarukyan on the mat. Tsarukyan responded by asking about Dvalishvili's weight, and when the champion answered 70 kg, Tsarukyan confirmed they are the same weight — a detail he appeared to use to strengthen his case for the hypothetical matchup.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are elite grapplers in their respective divisions, making the wrestling debate more than just idle trash talk
- Tsarukyan and Dvalishvili hail from neighboring countries in the Caucasus region, adding a cultural dimension to their rivalry
- The exchange keeps Tsarukyan's name circulating at the top of the lightweight division while Dvalishvili remains the face of bantamweight
