Arman Tsarukyan took aim at Ilia Topuria in a social media post, calling him "not a man" because, according to Tsarukyan, Topuria shaves his buttocks while Tsarukyan does not. The comment appears to be part of ongoing verbal sparring between the fighters. No fight between the two has been announced, and the context for this specific remark is unclear beyond the personal jab.
Arman Tsarukyan fired a crude shot at Ilia Topuria on social media on April 23, mocking the lightweight contender over his personal grooming habits in what appears to be the latest exchange in an ongoing verbal rivalry between the two fighters.
Tsarukyan, ranked first in the lightweight division at 29 years old, made the remark without much context beyond the personal jab itself, claiming Topuria shaves his buttocks while he does not — and on that basis declared Topuria "not a man." The Russian fighter, representing American Top Team, carries a record of 23-3-0 and has established himself as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the 155-pound class, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 50 percent.
Topuria, the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world and ranked second in the lightweight division, holds a record of 17-1-0. The 29-year-old Georgian-born Spaniard, fighting out of Climent Club, is a well-rounded threat who lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a takedown rate of 1.96 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Topuria are the top two ranked lightweights, making any escalation in their rivalry significant for divisional title picture
- Topuria's pound-for-pound number one status gives the feud added visibility beyond the 155-pound class
- The two share identical height at five-foot-seven and the same orthodox stance, making a potential stylistic matchup a closely contested one on paper
- No fight between the two has been announced, and it remains unclear what specifically prompted Tsarukyan's comment
