Tsarukyan jokes he'd beat Dvalishvili 10-7 in wrestling match

Arman Tsarukyan fired back at Merab Dvalishvili on social media this week, joking that he would beat the bantamweight contender 10-7 in a hypothetical wrestling-only match. The exchange started when Dvalishvili issued the playful challenge, and Tsarukyan was quick to accept in kind. Both men noted they are currently walking around at approximately 70 kg, lending a casual, off-season feel to the banter. No formal contest of any kind has been discussed or scheduled.

Dvalishvili, 35, is ranked first in the bantamweight division and sits at number two in the pound-for-pound rankings with a professional record of 21-5. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the most relentless grapplers in the UFC, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — a figure that gives his wrestling callout some genuine credibility.

Tsarukyan, 29, holds the number-one ranking in the lightweight division and carries a record of 23-3. The Russian fighter, representing American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes of his own, and his 50 percent striking accuracy marks him as one of the more precise offensive fighters in his weight class.

Why it matters

• Dvalishvili is the top-ranked bantamweight; Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight, so even a social media exchange between two fighters at this level draws attention.
• The back-and-forth highlights both men's wrestling credentials, a skillset central to each fighter's identity.
• The cross-division nature of the joke underlines there is no competitive matchup being floated — this is purely lighthearted social media content.