TLDR
- Arman Tsarukyan made claims about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s alleged connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin
- Khabib Nurmagomedov has publicly addressed and responded to Tsarukyan’s statements
- Tsarukyan stated that even Khabib cannot submit current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev
- The Armenian fighter believes drama is essential for the growth of mixed martial arts
- Tsarukyan also criticized statements made by featherweight champion Ilia Topuria
Sources: hitc.com | Sherdog | ny fights
Khabib Nurmagomedov has responded to recent statements made by lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan regarding alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The former UFC lightweight champion addressed the claims after Tsarukyan brought them up in recent interviews.
Tsarukyan, who is preparing for his upcoming title shot, made several comments that caught the attention of the MMA community. The Armenian fighter has been vocal about multiple topics ranging from politics to fight analysis.
Putin Connection Claims
The controversy started when Tsarukyan discussed Nurmagomedov’s relationship with the Russian government. Khabib has been photographed with Putin in the past and has spoken about their interactions publicly.
Khabib decided to address these claims directly rather than ignore them. The Dagestani fighter has maintained a high profile in Russia since his retirement from MMA in 2020.
Tsarukyan’s comments come as he prepares for his lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev. The two fighters share a training history, as Tsarukyan has trained in Dagestan with the same team.
Khabib Nurmagomedov responds after Arman Tsarukyan claimed Vladimir Putin built a gym for him in Russia:
"This is absolutely not true. No one ever paid for my bills or built gyms for me."
(via @PBDsPodcast) pic.twitter.com/FBALA8Nk4Q
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 30, 2026
Claims About Islam Makhachev
In another statement, Tsarukyan made a technical assessment of the current lightweight champion. He claimed that even Khabib Nurmagomedov himself would not be able to submit Islam Makhachev in a hypothetical matchup.
The statement has generated discussion among MMA fans and analysts. Makhachev is widely considered one of the best grapplers in the sport and has been Khabib’s training partner for years.
Tsarukyan also criticized featherweight champion Ilia Topuria for recent statements. He disagreed with claims made by the Georgian-Spanish fighter about fighting abilities.
The Armenian contender explained his philosophy on promoting fights and building interest. He stated that drama is a key factor for the growth of mixed martial arts as a sport.
Tsarukyan believes that creating storylines and controversies helps attract more fans to MMA. This approach has become more common among fighters in recent years.
Khabib retired with a perfect 29-0 record and is considered one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. He now works as a coach and mentor to several fighters including Makhachev.
Makhachev currently holds the UFC lightweight championship and has defended it successfully multiple times. He trains at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, when not in Dagestan.
Tsarukyan earned his title shot after a series of impressive victories in the lightweight division. He previously fought Makhachev in 2019 on short notice and lost by unanimous decision.
The upcoming rematch will give Tsarukyan a chance to prove his skills have improved. He has been more vocal in recent months as the fight approaches.
Khabib’s response to the Putin claims has not been detailed in full by media outlets. The former champion has historically kept his political views and relationships private when possible.
Tsarukyan continues to make headlines with his statements about various fighters and topics. His comments about Khabib being unable to submit Makhachev have sparked debate about hypothetical matchups between the two Dagestani fighters.
