Devon Larratt’s journey from the Canadian Armed Forces to the top of the arm wrestling world is fueled by the same discipline that earned him a master corporal rank. But his career has also been defined by crushing defeats—most notably to Levan Saginashvili—and a hand injury that nearly ended it.

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Born: 24 April 1975 ·
Height: 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) ·
Weight: 260 lb (118 kg) ·
Military Service: Canadian Armed Forces (1994–2010) ·
Arm Wrestling Titles: Multiple WAL, PAL, and international championships

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth (no verified figures)
  • Ranking number in 2025 (subject to change after events)
  • Next match date (no official announcement)
3Timeline signal
  • 1975: Born (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
  • 1994: Enlisted in Canadian Armed Forces (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
  • 2018: Hand injury and surgery (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
  • 2022: Lost to Levan Saginashvili 6-0 (LowKick MMA (combat sports news))
  • 2024: Rematch loss to Levan 4-0 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
4What’s next
  • Possible rematch with Levan after both recover from injuries
  • Expansion of YouTube content and coaching
  • Continued rehabilitation from biceps tear
Larratt’s career is a paradox: military discipline built his mental edge, but the same hand wounded in Afghanistan became his main weapon after reconstruction.

The key biographical details show a pattern: Devon Larratt built his career on military discipline and overcame multiple physical setbacks.

Attribute Value
Full Name Devon Eberhard Larratt
Date of Birth 24 April 1975
Place of Birth Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 260 lb (118 kg)
Arm Left-handed
Style Hook and toproll
Military Canadian Armed Forces
Titles WAL Left Hand Champion, PAL Champion

The pattern across Larratt’s stats: a former military operator who found a second career in arm wrestling, leveraging pain tolerance and tactical endurance.

Who is the world's number one arm wrestler?

As of early 2025, the consensus among governing bodies is that Levan Saginashvili holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking. According to Wikipedia (online encyclopedia), Saginashvili has dominated the sport since 2022, winning both King of the Table and East vs West titles.

Current rankings and governing bodies

  • King of the Table (KOT): Levan Saginashvili is the undisputed champion after defeating Devon Larratt in 2022 and 2024.
  • East vs West (EVW): Saginashvili retained the super-heavyweight title against Larratt on 2024-04-20 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
  • World Armwrestling League (WAL): Larratt was a former champion before the organization paused operations.

Historical number-one arm wrestlers

Before Saginashvili, names like John Brzenk, Michael Todd, and Devon Larratt held the top spot. Larratt, according to LowKick MMA (combat sports news), was widely considered the best left-handed arm wrestler before his injury.

Criteria for ranking

  • Match results at major events (KOT, EVW, WAL)
  • Head-to-head records
  • Consistency and frequency of competition

The implication: the current ranking hinges almost entirely on the Saginashvili-Larratt rivalry, with Levan holding a clear edge.

The upshot

Levan Saginashvili has not lost a super-match since 2020, making him the de facto number one. For Larratt, regaining that status means finding a way to counter Levan’s size and press.

Who are the top 10 arm wrestlers right now?

Eight contenders, one pattern: the top tier is dominated by heavyweights with a mix of size and technique.

Current top 10 list

  • 1. Levan Saginashvili (Georgia) – undefeated in super-matches since 2020
  • 2. Devon Larratt (Canada) – former WAL champ, recovered from injuries
  • 3. Ermes Gasperini (Italy) – strong right-handed press
  • 4. Genadi Kvikvinia (Georgia) – rising contender
  • 5. Michael Todd (USA) – former number one, known for endurance
  • 6. Jerry Cadorette (USA) – multiple-time WAL champion
  • 7. Dave Chaffee (USA) – consistent top-tier competitor
  • 8. Artyom Morozov (Ukraine) – technical toproll specialist
  • 9. Revaz Lutidze (Georgia) – new generation
  • 10. Oleg Petrenko (Ukraine) – strong left-handed

Rankings based on recent major event results as of January 2025, per Wikipedia (online encyclopedia) and LowKick MMA (combat sports news).

Key contenders and their styles

  • Levan Saginashvili: press and brute force
  • Devon Larratt: hook, toproll, stamina
  • Ermes Gasperini: explosive press

Rising stars in the sport

Arm wrestling is seeing a surge in young Georgian and Ukrainian pullers. According to YouTube (match analysis channel), names like Revaz Lutidze could break into the top five within two years.

The pattern: the top 10 is increasingly international, but the Georgian arm-wrestling academy continues to produce champions.

What this means: the top-heavy division is stable only as long as Levan remains healthy — Larratt’s path back to number one passes through rematches with young Georgian contenders.

Who has beaten Devon Larratt?

Four primary names appear on Larratt’s loss list, each representing a different phase of his career.

List of defeats

  • John Brzenk – early career defeat (2000s) (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
  • Levan Saginashvili – 2022 KOT4 (6-0) and 2024 EVW12 (4-0) (LowKick MMA (combat sports news))
  • Michael Todd – 2018 WAL match (Larratt later avenged)
  • Denis Cyplenkov – 2012 if considered (exhibition)

Analysis of each loss

John Brzenk: Larratt was still learning the sport. Levan Saginashvili: both losses were dominant, but Larratt entered the 2024 rematch with a wrist injury (YouTube (match preview)). Michael Todd: a close match decided by stamina.

Lessons from setbacks

According to LowKick MMA (combat sports news), each defeat led Larratt to refine his technique—especially his hand and wrist conditioning after the 2018 surgery.

The catch: Larratt’s willingness to face the world’s best, even while injured, has built his legend but also cost him titles.

Who is stronger, Levan or Devon?

Five head-to-head matches (two official) make the answer clear: Levan is stronger in raw power, Devon in technique and endurance.

Head-to-head record

  • 2022 KOT4: Levan won 6-0 (left hand) (LowKick MMA (combat sports news))
  • 2024 EVW12: Levan won 4-0 (right hand) (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

Physical and stylistic comparison

The weight and style gap is the decisive factor in this rivalry.

Attribute Devon Larratt Levan Saginashvili
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 260 lb (118 kg) 300+ lb (136+ kg)
Style Hook / Toproll Press / Brute force
Stamina Excellent Good
Injury history Hand, elbow, biceps Wrist tendon (2023)

The implication: Levan’s size advantage overpowers Larratt’s technical edge in most exchanges.

Expert opinions and match analysis

According to YouTube (Larratt’s post-match interview), Larratt said his biceps tear against Levan was “a mid-muscle tear with no detachment.” The Georgian’s combination of size and leverage makes him nearly unbeatable in a press exchange.

Why this matters: as long as Levan stays healthy, he remains the benchmark. Devon’s best chance may be to force a longer match where stamina decides.

The paradox

The same hand that was wounded by shrapnel in Afghanistan 2005 became his main weapon on the arm wrestling table after rehabilitation.

Was Devon Larratt in the military?

Yes, and it’s a central part of his identity. According to Wikipedia (online encyclopedia), Larratt served with the Canadian Armed Forces from 1994 to 2010, reaching the rank of master corporal with Joint Task Force 2.

Military service timeline

  • 1994: Enlisted (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
  • Multiple deployments: Seven tours to Afghanistan (LowKick MMA (combat sports news))
  • Wounded in action: Took shrapnel to the hand in 2005 (LowKick MMA (combat sports news))
  • 2010: Left active service

Impact on arm wrestling career

Larratt has said that the military taught him discipline and pain tolerance—qualities that translate directly to arm wrestling. In a YouTube (interview), he noted that his training regimen remains “military-grade.”

Discipline and mental toughness

Multiple sources, including LowKick MMA (combat sports news), emphasize that his military background gives him a mental edge in the later rounds of long matches.

The implication: Larratt’s military service is not just biographical trivia—it’s a core part of his competitive advantage.

What injury did Devon Larratt have?

Three major injury episodes define his medical timeline, each with a different cause and recovery path.

Description of the hand injury

In 2018, Larratt suffered a severe right-hand injury during training. According to Wikipedia (online encyclopedia), it required surgery. The exact nature was a torn ligament that led to nerve damage.

Surgery and recovery process

  • 2018 surgery: Hand reconstruction (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
  • Rehabilitation: 12+ months of physical therapy
  • 2022 biceps tear: Mid-muscle tear from the Levan match, treated without surgery (YouTube (Larratt interview))

Return to competition and long-term effects

Larratt returned to competition in 2019 and won the WAL left-hand title shortly after. However, according to DevonLarratt.info (fan site), he helped Levan Saginashvili get stem-cell treatment for a wrist injury in 2023, showing the mutual respect between rivals. Larratt’s hand remains a concern: he now protects it with custom wraps and altered technique.

The catch: Larratt’s willingness to compete while injured has earned him respect but may shorten his career at the highest level.

“It was a mid-muscle biceps tear with no detachment. I was in a sling for about three or four days and then started moving it with light weight.”

Devon Larratt, speaking on YouTube (post-match interview)

“When you face Devon, you have to be ready for a long fight. He doesn’t break mentally.”

Levan Saginashvili, as quoted by LowKick MMA (combat sports news)

What to watch

Both Larratt and Saginashvili have dealt with serious injuries since 2022. The next match between them may depend on who recovers more fully.

The road ahead for Devon Larratt involves more than rankings—it’s about proving that military discipline and repeated comebacks can still challenge the physical superiority of the current champion. The choice for Larratt seems clear: either find a way to neutralize Levan’s press with tactical endurance, or transition fully into the content creation and coaching that has already made him a giant of the sport.

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, colosseumstrength.com, en.wikipedia.org, soundtopia.com, playersbio.com

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Frequently asked questions

How did Devon Larratt start arm wrestling?

He began competing while still in the military, initially as a way to stay competitive during deployments. His first recorded matches were in the early 2000s.

What is Devon Larratt’s training regimen?

He combines arm-specific exercises (wrist curls, hammer curls) with full-body strength and cardio. He often trains military-style circuits.

Has Devon Larratt ever won a world championship?

Yes, he has won the WAL left-hand championship multiple times and held the PAL title. He is considered a former world champion in left-hand competition.

What hand does Devon Larratt use in competition?

He competes left-handed primarily, though he has also pulled right-handed matches (e.g., against Levan in 2024).

Is Devon Larratt retired?

No. As of 2024 he remains active, though he has shifted more time to his YouTube channel and coaching.

What is Devon Larratt’s YouTube channel?

He runs “Devon Larratt” on YouTube, where he posts training videos, match analysis, and vlogs.

Who is Devon Larratt’s biggest rival?

Levan Saginashvili is widely considered his biggest rival due to their high-profile matches and contrasting styles.

How does Devon Larratt compare to other top arm wrestlers?

He is best known for his left-handed hook and endurance, ranking second behind Levan Saginashvili in recent pound-for-pound lists.