Arman Tsarukyan has made a peculiar statement about Ilia Topuria's masculinity, claiming Topuria is "not a man" because he shaves certain body parts while Tsarukyan does not. The lightweight contender made this unusual comment in what appears to be part of ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters. The context and motivation behind the specific remark remain unclear from the post.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken his rivalry with Ilia Topuria in an unusual direction, publicly questioning Topuria's masculinity over personal grooming habits. The Russian lightweight contender claimed that Topuria is "not a man" because he shaves certain body parts — something Tsarukyan says he does not do. The comment surfaced as part of what appears to be a broader and ongoing exchange of verbal jabs between the two fighters.
Tsarukyan, known as "Ahalkalakets," carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the number-one ranking in the lightweight division at age 29. Fighting out of American Top Team, the five-foot-seven Russian has built his reputation on a relentless grappling game, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, and lands significant strikes at a rate of 3.85 per minute with 50 percent accuracy.
Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," sits just behind Tsarukyan at number two in the lightweight standings but holds the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old Spaniard, also five-foot-seven though with a noticeably shorter 69-inch reach compared to Tsarukyan's 72 inches, is a high-output striker landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also mixes in nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Topuria are the two highest-ranked lightweights in the division, making any friction between them relevant to title picture discussions
- The reach advantage Tsarukyan holds — 72 inches to Topuria's 69 — is a meaningful physical distinction if the two ever meet inside the cage
- The motivations and full context behind the grooming comment remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether this represents a formal callout or simple social media provocation
