Arman Tsarukyan jokingly proposed a wrestling match with Merab Dvalishvili and claimed he could defeat him with a score of 10-7. The exchange began when Dvalishvili challenged Tsarukyan, saying "Bro, I'll beat you in wrestling." When Tsarukyan asked Dvalishvili's weight, both confirmed they weigh 70 kg (approximately 154 lbs). The playful banter highlights the competitive relationship between top fighters in adjacent weight classes. Neither fighter has indicated this challenge will materialize into an actual wrestling match. The interaction appears to be lighthearted social media engagement rather than a serious sporting proposal.
Arman Tsarukyan and Merab Dvalishvili engaged in some lighthearted online sparring this week, with the lightweight contender boldly claiming he would defeat the bantamweight star 10-7 in a hypothetical wrestling match.
The exchange was kicked off by Dvalishvili, who told Tsarukyan plainly, "Bro, I'll beat you in wrestling." Tsarukyan asked about his weight before both men confirmed they sit at 70 kilograms, roughly 154 pounds, and the Armenian-Russian fighter fired back with his confident, if tongue-in-cheek, prediction.
Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," holds a 21-5 record and currently sits ranked first in the bantamweight division and second in the pound-for-pound standings. The 35-year-old Georgian, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, has built his reputation largely on relentless wrestling, averaging an exceptional 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his UFC career.
Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 23-3 record and holds the number-one ranking in the lightweight division. Fighting out of American Top Team, the Russian fighter is no stranger to grappling himself, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes while also posting a striking accuracy of 50 percent. At five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he has one inch of height and five inches of reach on Dvalishvili.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is widely regarded as one of the UFC's elite wrestlers, making Tsarukyan's boast a deliberate poke at his rival's biggest strength
- The two compete in adjacent weight classes, so a future matchup in either division is not out of the question
- Neither fighter has suggested this will go beyond social media banter, and no formal challenge has been issued
