Arman Tsarukyan reacts to Chimaev's loss, calls him 'champion'

Following Khamzat Chimaev's defeat at UFC 328 on May 9, Arman Tsarukyan took to social media to offer public support to the fallen middleweight contender, posting a message of solidarity that quickly drew attention across the MMA community.

Tsarukyan wrote that the fighters had fought hard and suggested that anyone who watched the event understood what truly transpired. He urged Chimaev to keep his head up and expressed confidence that the man he called "champion" would reclaim his belt before long.

Chimaev, 32, entered UFC 328 as the number one ranked middleweight and the number ten fighter in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying a record of 15-1. The UAE-based Swede trains out of Allstars Training Center and has long been considered one of the most well-rounded threats in the sport, averaging 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy while also posting 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His loss to Sean Strickland was just the second defeat of his professional career.

Tsarukyan, 29, competes in a different weight class entirely, sitting as the number one ranked lightweight out of Russia and training with American Top Team. He holds a 23-3 record and brings his own considerable pressure with 3.85 significant strikes per minute. Despite competing at 155 pounds while Chimaev operates at 185, the two fighters appear to share a close bond.

Why it matters

• Chimaev's loss reshuffles the middleweight top five and opens the division's title picture significantly
• Tsarukyan's public show of support signals a personal relationship that crosses divisional lines
• The "champion" framing in Tsarukyan's post may hint at his belief the result was controversial or disputed