Arman Tsarukyan has ridiculed Ilia Topuria's assertion that he could submit Islam Makhachev in a potential matchup. Tsarukyan went as far as to say that even Khabib Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as one of the greatest grapplers in MMA history, would not have been able to submit Makhachev. This statement serves to dismiss Topuria's confidence and defend the grappling prowess of Makhachev. The comment adds fuel to ongoing discussions about potential fantasy matchups and divisional challenges. No formal announcement of a Topuria-Makhachev fight has been made.
Arman Tsarukyan has fired back at Ilia Topuria, publicly mocking the Georgian-Spanish contender's claim that he could submit lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in a hypothetical matchup. Tsarukyan went so far as to argue that even Khabib Nurmagomedov — widely considered among the greatest grapplers in MMA history — would not have been capable of submitting Makhachev.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is the current champion at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw carries a striking accuracy of 58 percent and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, complemented by 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that underline why Tsarukyan views him as essentially impossible to submit. Makhachev trains out of Eagles MMA, the same lineage that produced Nurmagomedov himself.
Nurmagomedov, now 37 and retired at a perfect 29-0-0, averaged a remarkable 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, making Tsarukyan's invocation of his name a deliberate escalation — if even Khabib could not finish Makhachev on the ground, the implication is that nobody can.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1-0 record and has earned his reputation as a finisher. The 29-year-old Spaniard averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His confidence in his grappling is not without basis, but Tsarukyan's comments are a direct challenge to that self-assessment.
Why it matters
- Topuria is ranked second at lightweight, making a potential Makhachev fight a genuine title picture conversation
- Tsarukyan's comments intensify the public back-and-forth between top lightweight contenders
- No fight between Topuria and Makhachev has been officially announced
