Arman Tsarukyan stated that Conor McGregor could never have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov, even if both were at their peak. Tsarukyan explained that style makes the fight, and Khabib's wrestling was simply unstoppable. He acknowledged Khabib's greatness in grappling but noted he was less impressive in striking. Tsarukyan posed the question to fans whether McGregor in his prime would have provided stiffer competition or if the result would have remained the same.
Arman Tsarukyan has weighed in on one of MMA's most debated hypotheticals, declaring that Conor McGregor would never have beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov regardless of when the two met in their careers.
Tsarukyan, the number-one ranked lightweight contender, made the comments in a recent interview, arguing that stylistic dynamics made the matchup essentially unwinnable for McGregor. The 29-year-old Russian, who holds a 23-3 record and trains out of American Top Team, pointed to Khabib's wrestling as the defining factor. He acknowledged Khabib was a less complete striker but maintained that his grappling made the outcome inevitable. Tsarukyan himself is no stranger to the mat game, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes over his career with a 50 percent striking accuracy — making him one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division today.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired with a flawless 29-0 record, built his legacy on suffocating grappling. The Eagle averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career, a figure that underscores why Tsarukyan views his wrestling as simply unstoppable. McGregor, by contrast, averaged just 0.67 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career — reflecting a game built almost entirely on striking. The Irishman, now 37 and holding a 22-6 record, remains one of the sport's most prolific offensive strikers, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute with 49 percent accuracy.
Tsarukyan did invite fans to consider the question on its merits, asking whether a prime McGregor would have made the fight more competitive, even if the final result stayed the same.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's comments reignite a long-running debate about the sport's greatest stylistic mismatches at lightweight
- As the division's top-ranked contender, Tsarukyan's perspective carries weight given his own blend of wrestling and striking
- McGregor's future and Khabib's retired legacy continue to generate discussion around the lightweight title picture
