Arman Tsarukyan playfully proposed a wrestling match against Merab Dvalishvili and claimed he could defeat him with a score of 10-7. The exchange began when Merab stated he would beat Arman in wrestling. When Arman asked about Merab's weight, Merab responded that he weighs 70 kg, to which Arman replied that he weighs the same. The lighthearted callout showcases the friendly competitive banter between fighters from different weight classes.
Arman Tsarukyan issued a playful wrestling challenge to Merab Dvalishvili in an exchange of social media banter, claiming he would beat the bantamweight contender by a score of 10-7.
The back-and-forth began when Dvalishvili stated he would defeat Tsarukyan in a wrestling match. Tsarukyan fired back by asking about his weight, and when Dvalishvili replied that he comes in at 70 kg, Tsarukyan noted he weighs the same — setting up his tongue-in-cheek challenge.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," holds a 21-5-0 record and is ranked first in the UFC bantamweight division and second pound-for-pound. The 35-year-old from Georgia trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team and has built his reputation on relentless wrestling, averaging an elite 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. Standing five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, he is widely regarded as one of the most suffocating grapplers in the sport.
Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the number-one ranking in the lightweight division. The Russia-born American Top Team product stands five-foot-seven with a notably longer 72-inch reach. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes of his own and posts a striking accuracy of 50 percent, showcasing a well-rounded skill set that makes him a credible voice in any wrestling debate.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight while Dvalishvili is the top-ranked bantamweight, so the exchange is purely cross-divisional fun with no matchmaking implications.
- Dvalishvili's wrestling credentials — 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — make him one of the hardest men in the UFC to challenge on the mat.
- The friendly rivalry highlights the competitive culture among elite fighters, even across weight classes.
