Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan engaged in a conversation about at what weight class Tsarukyan could defeat Chimaev. Tsarukyan claimed he would beat Chimaev at 77 kilograms (approximately 170 pounds), suggesting confidence in a catchweight scenario. Chimaev responded that he would struggle to make that weight, stating he hasn't been at 77 kg in about 10 years. The exchange appears to be lighthearted banter between the two fighters rather than serious fight negotiations. The conversation highlights the significant size difference between the two competitors.
Khamzat Chimaev and Arman Tsarukyan exchanged playful social media banter on April 24, sparring over the hypothetical question of at what weight Tsarukyan could actually beat the larger Chimaev.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," carries a 15-1 record and is ranked first in the middleweight division, with a top-ten spot on the pound-for-pound rankings at number ten. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center, stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless grappling — averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes — combined with sharp striking that lands at 60 percent accuracy. His response to Tsarukyan was blunt: he has not weighed 77 kilograms in roughly a decade, underscoring just how far removed he is from that number.
Tsarukyan, nicknamed "Ahalkalakets," enters the exchange as the top-ranked lightweight contender, holding a 23-3 record. The 29-year-old Russian southpaw out of American Top Team stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach — a notably smaller frame than Chimaev's — yet projected confidence, claiming he would defeat Chimaev at 77 kilograms in a theoretical catchweight meeting. He averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute and mixes in a steady 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The size gap between the two is significant: Chimaev operates at middleweight while Tsarukyan competes two divisions below at lightweight.
- A genuine catchweight of 77 kg sits between welterweight and middleweight, an unusual and unlikely sanctioned weight for either man.
- Both fighters are ranked at the top of their respective divisions, meaning any real crossover talk would carry genuine divisional implications, though this exchange appears to be nothing more than lighthearted sparring.
