Arman Tsarukyan fires back at Ilia Topuria: ‘Why are you ducking?'

Boxingnews Editor

23 April 2026

Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has answered Ilia Topuria’s recent insults with a challenge of his own, accusing the UFC champion of jealousy and avoidance.

Topuria lit the fuse earlier this week when he dismissed Tsarukyan as a potential opponent, calling him “dumb as f—k” and “a retard” during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, per Sherdog. The Georgian-Spanish champion also mocked Tsarukyan’s social media presence, claiming he projects wealth off his father’s money rather than his own earnings. “You’re that poor that the only thing that you have is money,” Topuria said, according to the report.

Tsarukyan Questions Topuria’s Willingness to Fight

Tsarukyan pushed back on the claims in his own interview with Ariel Helwani, as reported by MMA Mania. “He’s jealous,” Tsarukyan said. “He wants to say I’m nothing and that if the UFC offers the fight, he won’t take it. He wants to tell everyone in this world that I’m not on his level.” The No. 2 lightweight noted that Topuria praised Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Max Holloway as quality opponents but conspicuously left him off the list. Tsarukyan also challenged Topuria’s claim that he could not be taken down. “In my culture, if you say something about someone, you explain why,” he said. “He couldn’t explain why I’m ‘dumb.’ We’ll see when the fight happens. We’ll see how I won’t take him down — I can take down anybody.”

Then Tsarukyan added a personal jab, mocking Topuria’s grooming habits. “I’m the man, but he’s not — he shaves his ass. He shaves his arms and legs. At least I’m a man,” he told Helwani, per MMA Mania. “He has no hair on his legs. You think he’s going to have a hair on his ass?” He also suggested Topuria return to Georgia instead of training in Miami, where he claimed the champion has had “bad experiences.”

Topuria defends his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC White House on June 14. Tsarukyan has not fought since stopping Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar in November and has stayed active in wrestling and grappling competitions while waiting for his title shot. “Just accept the fight,” Tsarukyan said. “Why are you ducking if you’re super confident that you can beat me in the first round. Sign the contract after this fight and don’t move up.”

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