Arman Tsarukyan questions Ilia Topuria's masculinity over grooming habits

Arman Tsarukyan took his verbal campaign against Ilia Topuria to an unusual place this week, questioning the former featherweight champion's masculinity over personal grooming habits. Tsarukyan stated that Topuria is "not a man" because he shaves his backside — something Tsarukyan says he does not do. The remarks appear to be the latest exchange in an ongoing back-and-forth between the two lightweight contenders, with no official fight between them announced.

Tsarukyan, known as "Ahalkalakets," carries a 23-3 record and currently sits at number one in the lightweight rankings. The 29-year-old Russian trains out of American Top Team and brings elite wrestling to the division, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. He stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and lands significant strikes at a clip of 3.85 per minute with 50 percent accuracy.

Topuria, nicknamed "El Matador," holds a 17-1 record and is ranked second in the lightweight division while sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. Also 29, the Spain-based Georgian-born fighter trains at Climent Club and shares the same five-foot-seven height as Tsarukyan, though his reach measures 69 inches. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds a submission threat, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan is ranked directly above Topuria at lightweight, making any eventual matchup between them a title eliminator or championship fight
• The ongoing verbal sparring keeps both fighters' names prominent in a crowded division
• A matchup would pit Tsarukyan's high-volume wrestling against Topuria's sharp striking and finishing ability