Outside Source
Tsarukyan submitted Dan Hooker in the main event at UFC Qatar on Saturday. Topuria was also in attendance for the event, cornering his brother Aleksandre to a decision victory against Bekzat Almakhan.
Advertisement
Topuria and Tsarukyan ran into each other backstage, where the lightweight champion claims to have slapped the Russian contender. Topuria posted a video of the interaction where he seemingly pats Tsarukyan on the cheek. “El Matador” mocked Tsarukyan, accusing him of just smiling in response to an alleged slap.
“Arman, every time we see each other in person you freeze up like a scared duck with no idea what to do,” Topuria wrote on social media. “You know I handle you however I want. I fight whoever the UFC chooses. And remember I slapped you and you just laughed, then you go around acting like a gangster. So keep going, you’re on the right path… just a few levels below me, kid.”
Arman, every time we see each other in person you freeze up like a scared duck with no idea what to do. You know I handle you however I want. I fight whoever the UFC chooses. And remember I slapped you and you just laughed, then you go around acting like a gangster. So keep… pic.twitter.com/1O9S3PKOU1
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) November 23, 2025
An Educational Offer
Tsarukyan (23-3) dismissed claims of being slapped by Topuria (17-0). Tsarukyan says the undefeated Georgian-Spaniard was posing with him as if they were clicking a family photo. “Ahalkalakets” called out Topuria to give him the taste of “real slap” inside the Octagon.
“Bro, you touched my neck like we were taking a family photo and now you’re calling it a slap online? The clip is clear your insecurity’s even clearer,” Tsarukyan wrote. “I don’t need to act tough for Twitter, my work is inside the cage. If you want to know what a real slap feels like, I’ll be happy to educate you. See you soon, El Pato.”
Despite being the top contender, Tsarukyan was sidelined from the lightweight picture after pulling out of a title shot against Islam Makhachev earlier this year. Topuria defeated Charles Oliveira to win the vacant title after Makhachev moved up to welterweight. While Tsarukyan has since been calling out Topuria, the champion is interested in defending his belt against Paddy Pimblett, who also attended UFC Qatar.
Bro, you touched my neck like we were taking a family photo and now you’re calling it a slap online?
The clip is clear – your insecurity’s even clearer.
I don’t need to act tough for Twitter, my work is inside the cage.
If you want to know what a real slap feels like, I’ll be… https://t.co/u0C2HGilnl— Arman Tsarukyan UFC (@ArmanUfc) November 23, 2025
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
Help support MMACrazies.com when you shop Amazon by starting your online Amazon shopping at MMACrazies.com/recommends/amazon. You are not charged extra, but we receive a small and very helpful commission on everything you purchase. Thanks for thinking of us every time you shop at Amazon.
