Arman Tsarukyan has ridiculed Ilia Topuria's statement that he could submit Islam Makhachev. Tsarukyan dismissed the idea, asserting that even Khabib Nurmagomedov would not have been able to accomplish such a feat against Makhachev. The comment underscores Tsarukyan's belief in Makhachev's elite grappling skills. This adds fuel to ongoing verbal exchanges surrounding potential matchups in the lightweight division. Tsarukyan's remarks suggest he views Topuria's confidence as unrealistic given Makhachev's proven submission defense.
Arman Tsarukyan has publicly mocked Ilia Topuria's claim that he could submit Islam Makhachev, dismissing the idea as detached from reality and invoking the name of Khabib Nurmagomedov to drive his point home.
Tsarukyan's remarks targeted Topuria, the 29-year-old Spanish contender currently ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings with a 17-1-0 record. Topuria, who fights out of Climent Club and stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, is an active grappler himself, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a striking output of 4.81 significant strikes per minute.
Makhachev, the reigning champion at 34 years old with a 28-1-0 record, is widely regarded as one of the elite grapplers in the sport. Fighting out of Eagles MMA, the Russian holds a 58 percent striking accuracy and also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, combining sharp offensive grappling with formidable defensive wrestling. Tsarukyan went as far as stating that even Khabib Nurmagomedov — the undefeated 29-0-0 Russian legend who averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes during his career — would not have been able to submit Makhachev, framing Topuria's confidence as wildly optimistic.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's elite submission defense and grappling pedigree are central to the lightweight division's current hierarchy
- Topuria, as the number-two ranked lightweight and top pound-for-pound fighter, is a leading candidate to challenge for the title
- The verbal back-and-forth adds tension to an already compelling potential matchup at 155 pounds
- Tsarukyan, himself a top lightweight contender, has a personal stake in how Makhachev and Topuria are perceived heading into any title discussion
