Arman Tsarukyan made controversial comments about fellow UFC fighter Ilia Topuria, calling him "not a man" based on personal grooming practices. Tsarukyan claimed the distinction is because "he shaves his butt and I don't." The unusual and personal nature of the insult represents an escalation in verbal exchanges between the two fighters. Both Tsarukyan and Topuria are top contenders in their respective UFC divisions, with Tsarukyan competing at lightweight and Topuria holding the featherweight championship. The comment appears designed to provoke Topuria and generate attention. It remains unclear what specifically prompted Tsarukyan to make these remarks at this time.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken his rivalry with Ilia Topuria in a distinctly unusual direction, publicly questioning the featherweight champion's masculinity over personal grooming habits in comments that surfaced on April 23.
Tsarukyan, ranked first in the UFC lightweight division at 29 years old, carries a record of 23 wins and 3 losses competing out of American Top Team. The Armenian-Russian fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless pressure and a strong grappling base, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes with 50 percent striking accuracy. His record makes him one of the most dangerous men in the 155-pound division.
Topuria, who now competes at lightweight and sits at number two in the divisional rankings as well as number one in the pound-for-pound standings, holds a 17-1-0 record and is 29 years old. Fighting out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, the Georgian-born star known as "El Matador" stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.81 per minute, showcasing the finishing instincts that defined his featherweight title reign.
The remarks themselves were blunt. Tsarukyan stated that Topuria is "not a man" because, in his words, "he shaves his butt and I don't." The comment appears calculated to get under Topuria's skin rather than reflect any substantive grievance, and it represents a notable escalation in the verbal back-and-forth between two fighters who seem increasingly aware of each other at the top of the lightweight hierarchy.
Why it matters
- Both men occupy the top two spots in the UFC lightweight rankings, making any friction between them divisionally significant
- Tsarukyan's trash talk keeps pressure on Topuria, who is still establishing himself at 155 pounds
- The personal nature of the insult suggests Tsarukyan is actively campaigning for a marquee matchup rather than waiting his turn
