Arman Tsarukyan took a jab at Ilia Topuria in a recent interview, calling the featherweight champion 'not a man' over his personal grooming choices. Specifically, Tsarukyan claimed that Topuria shaves his backside while he does not. The comment appears to be part of the ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters. While lighthearted in tone, the remark adds to the tension between the lightweight contender and the featherweight champion. No fight between the two has been officially announced.
Arman Tsarukyan took a playful but pointed shot at Ilia Topuria in a recent interview, mocking the champion over his personal grooming habits and declaring that Topuria is "not a man" because he shaves his backside — something Tsarukyan says he does not do.
Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," enters the conversation as the number-one ranked lightweight contender. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a 23-3-0 record and has built his reputation on relentless pressure and elite grappling. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a clip of 3.85 per minute with 50 percent accuracy, making him one of the more complete fighters in the 155-pound division.
Topuria, meanwhile, holds the number-two ranking at lightweight and sits at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. The Spain-based Georgian-born fighter, known as "El Matador," owns a 17-1-0 record and is 29 years old. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and attempts submissions at a rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes, underlining his finishing ability across multiple disciplines.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, making any friction with Topuria directly relevant to the division's title picture
- The two fighters share the same age, division, and orthodox stance, setting up a closely matched stylistic rivalry on paper
- No official fight between the two has been announced, meaning this exchange remains verbal for now
- The ongoing back-and-forth suggests both men are aware of each other as inevitable future opponents, even if negotiations have not begun
