Arman Tsarukyan made controversial remarks about Ilia Topuria, calling him "not a man" based on grooming differences. Specifically, Tsarukyan stated, "He shaves his backside, and I don't." The comment appears to be part of ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters. This personal attack represents an unusual angle in their rivalry, focusing on lifestyle choices rather than fighting credentials.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken his rivalry with Ilia Topuria in an unexpected direction, delivering a blunt personal dig at the lightweight division's second-ranked contender that has little to do with fighting ability.
Tsarukyan made the remarks publicly, stating that Topuria "shaves his backside" while he himself does not, and on that basis declared the Georgian-born Spaniard "not a man." The comment marks an unusual escalation in the pair's ongoing verbal sparring, shifting from competitive trash talk into territory focused squarely on personal lifestyle choices.
Tsarukyan, known as "Ahalkalakets," carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the number-one contender spot in the lightweight division. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, is one of the more well-rounded threats in the division, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 50 percent striking accuracy.
Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," sits just behind Tsarukyan at number two in the lightweight rankings but holds the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old representing Spain owns a 17-1-0 record and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.81 per minute. His reach of 69 inches is notably shorter than Tsarukyan's 72-inch frame, despite the two sharing an identical listed height of five-foot-seven.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Topuria are the top two ranked lightweights, making any friction between them relevant to divisional title implications
- The two fighters have engaged in an ongoing public rivalry, and comments like these keep that tension visible outside of formal booking announcements
- The personal nature of the remarks suggests Tsarukyan is attempting to get under Topuria's skin ahead of a potential future matchup
