Arman Tsarukyan made unusual comments about Ilia Topuria, calling him 'not a man' based on personal grooming differences. Tsarukyan stated that Topuria shaves his backside while he does not, presenting this as evidence of his claim. The bizarre comment appears to be part of ongoing verbal exchanges between the two fighters. No context is provided about what prompted this specific remark or whether it relates to any potential matchup between them.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken his verbal sparring with Ilia Topuria in an unusual direction, publicly declaring the former featherweight champion "not a man" based on a claim about personal grooming habits. Tsarukyan alleged that Topuria shaves his backside, contrasting that with his own approach as apparent proof of the assertion. The comment forms part of an ongoing back-and-forth between the two lightweight contenders.
Tsarukyan, known as "Ahalkalakets," enters this exchange as the number-one ranked lightweight in the UFC. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a record of 23 wins and 3 losses. He is one of the division's most active wrestlers, averaging 3.26 takedowns per fifteen minutes, and lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate.
Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador" and representing Spain, holds the number-two ranking at lightweight and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings at number one. Also 29, he holds a record of 17-1 and is a finishing threat on the feet, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute. He also adds a grappling dimension with 1.96 takedowns per fifteen minutes and 1.1 submission attempts in the same span.
Why it matters
- Both men occupy the top two spots at lightweight, making any friction between them relevant to the division's title picture.
- Tsarukyan's reach advantage of three inches — 72 inches compared to Topuria's 69 inches — would be a notable physical factor if the two ever meet.
- The exchange, however unusual in its subject matter, keeps both fighters in the public conversation at 155 pounds.
