Merab Dvalishvili gave his analysis on a potential matchup between Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria. The bantamweight champion stated that Tsarukyan would not be capable of taking down and controlling Topuria in a grappling exchange. Dvalishvili predicted that Tsarukyan would instead fall to a knockout from Topuria. The comments reflect Dvalishvili's high opinion of Topuria's grappling defense and striking power. Both Tsarukyan and Topuria compete in the lightweight and featherweight divisions respectively, making an actual matchup unlikely unless one changes weight classes.
Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on a hypothetical clash between Arman Tsarukyan and Ilia Topuria, offering a blunt verdict: Tsarukyan would not be able to take Topuria down or control him on the mat, and would ultimately get knocked out.
Dvalishvili, the bantamweight division's top-ranked contender and the number-two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, brings credibility to any grappling conversation. The 35-year-old Georgian, fighting out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, carries a 21-5 record and is one of the sport's most relentless wrestlers, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. His read on grappling matchups is not one to dismiss lightly.
The subject of his analysis, Ilia Topuria, currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and holds the top spot on the pound-for-pound list. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1 record and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute with 48 percent accuracy. His takedown output of 1.96 per 15 minutes, combined with 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflects the well-rounded game Dvalishvili appears to be endorsing.
Tsarukyan, also 29, is the number-one ranked lightweight at 23-3. Fighting out of American Top Team, the Russian averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and connects at a 50 percent striking accuracy clip, making him a genuine threat in both phases of the game. Dvalishvili's comments suggest he views those numbers as insufficient against Topuria specifically.
Why it matters
- Topuria and Tsarukyan are both operating near the top of the lightweight division, making any future meeting a high-stakes title picture fight
- Dvalishvili's analysis centers on Topuria's grappling defense, a quality that does not show up easily in standard statistics
- The divisional gap between Dvalishvili's bantamweight home and the lightweight title picture adds an outsider's perspective to his assessment
