Shovkhal Khataev challenged Arman Tsarukyan to a grappling wager during a recent interaction. Khataev offered 500,000 rubles if Tsarukyan could score a point against him within one minute during a wrestling match. When asked for clarification on the currency, Khataev confirmed it would be rubles, not dollars. Khataev mentioned he plans to wrestle an Olympic champion soon and was confident enough to offer to give up a leg position. Tsarukyan accepted the challenge. The exchange appeared lighthearted but both fighters seemed willing to follow through with the proposition.
Arman Tsarukyan has accepted a public grappling challenge from fellow Russian fighter Shovkhal Khataev, with 500,000 rubles on the line for a one-minute wrestling exchange between the two.
Khataev issued the proposition during a recent interaction, offering to pay out 500,000 rubles if Tsarukyan could score even a single point against him in a one-minute wrestling match. He added a further show of confidence by offering to start in a compromised leg position. When Tsarukyan sought clarification on the currency, Khataev confirmed it would be rubles rather than dollars. Tsarukyan accepted. The exchange carried a lighthearted tone, though both men appeared genuinely willing to see it through.
Tsarukyan, 29, currently sits as the number one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, carrying a record of 23 wins and 3 losses. The Armenian-born fighter representing Russia trains out of American Top Team and competes as an orthodox fighter standing 170 centimeters tall with a 183-centimeter reach. He is one of the more well-rounded fighters in his division, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a rate of 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Khataev, for his part, expressed confidence grounded in an upcoming wrestling session against an Olympic champion, suggesting his grappling credentials are not to be taken lightly heading into the proposed wager.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, so any public challenge involving him draws immediate divisional attention
- The wager highlights genuine grappling confidence from Khataev, who frames himself as a credible wrestler
- The exchange adds an element of off-cage rivalry that could carry weight should the two ever share a UFC contract
