Arman Tsarukyan made controversial comments about Ilia Topuria, calling him "not a man." Tsarukyan's reasoning was that Topuria shaves his buttocks while Tsarukyan does not. The post is brief and does not provide additional context or background for this statement. This appears to be part of ongoing verbal exchanges or rivalry between the two fighters. The post treats this as a humorous or absurd comment rather than serious criticism.
Arman Tsarukyan has taken his rivalry with Ilia Topuria to an unusual place, publicly questioning the featherweight-turned-lightweight contender's manhood — not over anything that happened inside the octagon, but over personal grooming choices.
Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," made the remarks as part of what appears to be an ongoing back-and-forth between the two lightweight contenders. His specific claim was that Topuria shaves his buttocks, a habit Tsarukyan does not share, and that this fact alone disqualifies Topuria from being considered a real man. The comment reads more as absurdist trash talk than serious criticism.
The 29-year-old Russian carries a 23-3 record and holds the number-one ranking in the lightweight division, training out of American Top Team. He stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more well-rounded threats in the 155-pound class.
Topuria, also 29 and also five-foot-seven, sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and holds the number-one spot on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, "El Matador" carries a 17-1 record and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.81 per minute with 48 percent accuracy. He also attempts 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, rounding out a well-developed offensive game.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is ranked directly above Topuria at lightweight, making any friction between them relevant to the division's title picture
- Both fighters are 29 and near the peak of their careers, heightening the competitive tension
- The exchange, however lighthearted, keeps a potential future matchup in the public conversation
