Arman Tsarukyan made a provocative comment about Ilia Topuria, declaring him "not a man" based solely on grooming differences. Tsarukyan stated that Topuria shaves his buttocks while he does not, offering this as his reasoning for the claim. The comment appears to be part of ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters. No fight between them has been announced, and the context or provocation for Tsarukyan's statement is not detailed in the original post.
Arman Tsarukyan took a bizarre shot at Ilia Topuria this week, declaring the former featherweight champion "not a man" — and grounding that claim entirely in a comparison of their respective body-grooming habits. Tsarukyan stated that Topuria shaves his buttocks while he does not, presenting the distinction as definitive evidence of his rival's character. The remark appears to be the latest salvo in an ongoing verbal back-and-forth between the two, though no official bout between them has been announced.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the conversation as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC. The Russia-born American Top Team product carries a 23-3-0 record and has built a reputation as one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 50 percent striking accuracy rate.
Topuria, also 29, sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and holds the number-one spot on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, the Georgian-born "El Matador" carries a 17-1-0 record and brings legitimate finishing power to any potential matchup, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Both fighters sit at the very top of the lightweight division, making any eventual clash a genuine title-eliminator or championship bout.
- Tsarukyan's reach advantage — 72 inches compared to Topuria's 69 inches — gives the matchup an interesting physical dimension despite both men standing at five-foot-seven.
- The public taunting keeps the rivalry alive in the media even without a formal booking, maintaining pressure on the UFC to put the fight together.
- Tsarukyan's elite takedown volume against Topuria's well-rounded finishing ability represents one of the most compelling style clashes available at 155 pounds.
