Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has made an unusual jab at featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, calling him 'not a man' because Topuria shaves his backside while Tsarukyan does not. The comment appears to be part of ongoing banter between the two fighters. Both are rising stars in the UFC, though they compete in different weight classes. The remark has generated attention on social media for its unconventional nature. No context for a potential matchup between the two has been provided.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken an unconventional shot at Ilia Topuria, declaring the featherweight champion "not a man" on the grounds that Topuria shaves his backside — a practice Tsarukyan says he does not share. The remark, which surfaced on social media on April 23, 2026, is the latest exchange in what appears to be an ongoing banter between the two fighters.
Tsarukyan, known as "Ahalkalakets," enters the conversation as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a 23-3 record and has built a reputation as one of the division's most complete threats. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — one of the more imposing grappling rates in the division.
Topuria, fighting out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, holds the number-two lightweight ranking and sits at number one in the pound-for-pound standings. Also 29, he carries a 17-1 record and has demonstrated sharp finishing ability, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute and averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He competes at featherweight, which means the two men are not currently in direct contention with one another despite both operating near the top of their respective rankings landscapes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Topuria are two of the UFC's most prominent young stars, and even casual exchanges between them draw significant attention.
- The jab highlights an existing social dynamic between the pair, suggesting a rivalry in personality if not yet in matchmaking.
- Both fighters share identical height and orthodox stances, fueling fan speculation about a future cross-weight-class grudge match.
