Arman Tsarukyan made controversial comments about Ilia Topuria, calling him "not a man" based on personal grooming habits. According to Tsarukyan, the reason for his statement is that Topuria shaves his buttocks while Tsarukyan does not. The comment appears to be part of ongoing verbal sparring between the two fighters. The context and setting of these remarks are not specified in the original post. This type of personal insult represents an unusual angle of trash talk in MMA discourse.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken his verbal sparring with Ilia Topuria in a decidedly unconventional direction, publicly declaring that the lightweight contender is "not a man" — citing Topuria's personal grooming habits as his reasoning. Tsarukyan claimed the basis for his judgment was that Topuria shaves his buttocks, while he himself does not. The remarks add a bizarre new dimension to what has been an ongoing war of words between the two fighters.
Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," holds a 23-3-0 record and sits at number one in the lightweight rankings. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, is one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 50 percent and 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute.
Topuria, known as "El Matador," carries a 17-1-0 record and holds the number two ranking in the lightweight division, while simultaneously sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter out of Climent Club is an aggressive finisher, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute with a takedown rate of 1.96 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Both fighters sit at the top of the lightweight division, making any escalation in their rivalry relevant to the title picture
- Tsarukyan ranks directly above Topuria at lightweight, adding competitive tension behind the trash talk
- The exchange, however unusual in nature, keeps a potential matchup between the two in public conversation
