Arman Tsarukyan has ridiculed Ilia Topuria's stated intention to submit Islam Makhachev. Tsarukyan went so far as to claim that even Khabib Nurmagomedov would not be able to accomplish such a feat against Makhachev. The comments reflect Tsarukyan's skepticism about Topuria's grappling ability relative to Makhachev's elite ground game. This statement adds fuel to discussions about a potential superfight between the featherweight champion Topuria and lightweight champion Makhachev. The specific context or interview where Tsarukyan made these remarks was not detailed.
Arman Tsarukyan has publicly dismissed Ilia Topuria's assertion that he could submit Islam Makhachev, going as far as to say that even the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov would be unable to submit the current lightweight champion.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," carries a 17-1-0 record and sits at number two in the divisional rankings while holding the number-one pound-for-pound spot. The 29-year-old Spaniard is currently competing at lightweight and averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute with a 48 percent striking accuracy. He attempts submissions at a rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes, but his grappling credentials relative to the elite Dagestani ground game have drawn scrutiny.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is the reigning champion, also ranked number one pound-for-pound. The Russian southpaw boasts a 58 percent striking accuracy — among the highest in the sport — and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underlining the suffocating ground control that has defined his championship run.
Tsarukyan added further weight to his skepticism by invoking Nurmagomedov, the undefeated 29-0-0 icon who averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. The implication was clear: if Khabib could not finish Makhachev on the ground, Topuria has no realistic path to doing so either.
Why it matters
- Topuria has publicly campaigned for a superfight against Makhachev, and these comments heighten the narrative tension surrounding that potential matchup.
- The exchange puts Makhachev's grappling credentials at the center of debate, with Tsarukyan — himself a former title challenger at lightweight — lending credibility to the skepticism.
- Topuria's move to lightweight and his pound-for-pound standing mean any clash with Makhachev would carry enormous divisional stakes for both the 155-pound title picture and the broader cross-divisional rankings conversation.
