Arman Tsarukyan made controversial comments about Ilia Topuria, calling him "not a man" based on personal grooming choices. Specifically, Tsarukyan stated that Topuria shaves his buttocks while he does not, presenting this as some kind of masculinity distinction. The comment appears to be part of ongoing verbal sparring between the two lightweight fighters. This type of personal attack represents an escalation in the social media exchanges between the fighters as they potentially build toward a future matchup.
Arman Tsarukyan took his verbal campaign against Ilia Topuria to a new low on April 23, mocking the former featherweight champion over personal grooming habits and declaring that Topuria's alleged practices made him "not a man."
Tsarukyan, ranked first in the lightweight division, carries a 23-3-0 record and trains out of American Top Team. The 29-year-old Russian stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation as one of the most well-rounded threats in the 155-pound class, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 50 percent.
Topuria, who holds the number-two ranking at lightweight and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings, enters this rivalry off a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old, who fights out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, is an aggressive finisher who lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He shares the same five-foot-seven height as Tsarukyan but carries a notably shorter 69-inch reach.
The specific jab from Tsarukyan centered on claims that Topuria shaves his buttocks, which Tsarukyan contrasted with his own habits as a measure of masculinity. The remark is the latest escalation in a back-and-forth between the two fighters that has grown increasingly personal.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan holds the top divisional ranking while Topuria sits at number two, meaning a matchup would directly determine a title contender or challenger.
- The reach advantage of three inches favors Tsarukyan, adding a tangible stylistic dimension to what is already a heated rivalry.
- Repeated public provocations from both sides suggest either fighter or their camps are actively working to build pressure toward an eventual booking.
