Arman Tsarukyan called Ilia Topuria 'not a man' in a peculiar social media jab. The basis for Tsarukyan's insult was an unconventional comment about personal grooming habits, specifically claiming that Topuria shaves his backside while Tsarukyan does not. This strange angle of trash talk appears to be part of the ongoing tension between the two fighters. The post was received with humor and disbelief by fans. No official fight announcement between the two has been made.
Arman Tsarukyan took an unusual shot at Ilia Topuria on social media, mocking the former champion with a bizarre personal grooming jab that quickly made the rounds among MMA fans. Tsarukyan's post claimed that Topuria shaves his backside while he does not, using the observation as the basis for declaring Topuria "not a man." No official fight announcement between the two has followed.
Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," enters this rivalry as the number-one ranked lightweight in the world. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a record of 23-3-0 and has built his reputation as a relentless pressure fighter. He lands 3.26 takedowns per fifteen minutes and connects at a 50 percent striking accuracy rate, making him one of the more well-rounded threats at 155 pounds. He stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and currently sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings, holds a 17-1-0 record and fights out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club. The 29-year-old, known as "El Matador," shares the same height as Tsarukyan but carries a notably shorter 69-inch reach. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and averages 1.96 takedowns per fifteen minutes, showcasing an aggressive, multi-dimensional game.
Fans responded to Tsarukyan's post with a mixture of laughter and disbelief, with the grooming angle standing out as one of the stranger pieces of trash talk the lightweight division has produced.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Topuria are the top two contenders in one of the UFC's most competitive divisions, making any potential matchup between them a title-implications fight.
- The ongoing verbal tension keeps their names linked despite the absence of a formal bout agreement.
- Both fighters are 29 and at the peak of their careers, adding urgency to when and whether this rivalry gets settled inside the cage.
