Arman Tsarukyan made controversial comments about Ilia Topuria, calling him not a man. The reason Tsarukyan gave for this statement was that Topuria shaves his backside while Tsarukyan does not. The comment appears to be a provocative jab at Topuria, though the context of the broader conversation is not provided. This exchange adds to the ongoing tension and verbal sparring between various UFC fighters on social media.
Arman Tsarukyan took aim at Ilia Topuria with an unusual personal jab on social media, declaring the former featherweight champion "not a man" — with the reasoning being that Topuria shaves his backside, a grooming habit Tsarukyan says he does not share.
The comment is the latest salvo in an ongoing verbal rivalry between two of the UFC lightweight division's premier contenders. Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the number-one contender spot at lightweight. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on a relentless wrestling-heavy game, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes at 50 percent striking accuracy.
Topuria, also 29 and ranked second at lightweight, enters the conversation as the current pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world according to the AgentMMA rankings. The Spanish-Georgian standout holds a 17-1-0 record and operates out of Climent Club. He shares the same five-foot-seven frame as Tsarukyan but works with a shorter 69-inch reach, compensating with sharp offensive output of 4.81 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan and Topuria sit first and second in the UFC lightweight rankings, making any tension between them directly relevant to a potential title fight.
- The personal nature of the jab suggests the rivalry is intensifying beyond standard pre-fight promotion.
- A matchup would pit Tsarukyan's elite wrestling volume against Topuria's finishing power and striking rate.
