Arman Tsarukyan made a provocative statement about Ilia Topuria, calling him "not a man" based on personal grooming choices. Tsarukyan's reasoning was that "he shaves his butt, and I don't." The comment appears to be part of ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters. The post was presented with humor and disbelief by the channel sharing it. No context is provided about what prompted this specific remark or whether it is part of a larger back-and-forth between the fighters. This type of personal attack is unusual even in the often contentious world of MMA trash talk.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken lightweight trash talk to a new frontier, publicly declaring that Ilia Topuria is "not a man" — and grounding that assessment entirely in personal grooming habits. Tsarukyan's reasoning, delivered with apparent seriousness, was simple: "He shaves his butt, and I don't." The remark, which drew humor and disbelief from those who shared it, represents one of the more unusual verbal salvos in recent MMA memory.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters this war of words as the number-one ranked lightweight in the world, carrying a 23-3 record under the American Top Team banner. The Russian fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on elite grappling, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes with striking accuracy sitting at 50 percent.
On the other side of this bizarre exchange stands Topuria, currently ranked second in the lightweight division and holding the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Spain-based Georgian fighter, also 29, owns a 17-1 record and fights out of Climent Club. Known for his finishing ability, "El Matador" lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and adds a submission threat with 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Topuria sit first and second in the lightweight rankings, making any friction between them relevant to the division's title picture.
- The verbal back-and-forth, however unusual in content, keeps a potential matchup between two of the sport's most prominent lightweights in public conversation.
- Both fighters share identical height and stance, meaning a style matchup would hinge on Tsarukyan's grappling volume against Topuria's striking and finishing instincts.
No context was provided for what triggered this specific remark, and it remains unclear whether it is part of a broader ongoing exchange between the two fighters.
