Dvalishvili says Tsarukyan can't wrestle Topuria, would get knocked out

Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on a potential lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, and the bantamweight champion is firmly in Topuria's corner when it comes to predicting the outcome.

Dvalishvili, ranked first at bantamweight and second in the pound-for-pound standings, argued that Tsarukyan would be unable to take Topuria down and control him on the mat. The 35-year-old Georgian, known for one of the most relentless wrestling games in the sport at 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, knows grappling as well as anyone. He went a step further in his assessment, predicting that Tsarukyan would ultimately get knocked out if the two lightweights met.

Topuria, the number-two ranked lightweight and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carries a 17-1 record and is known for serious finishing power. The 29-year-old out of Spain lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and also contributes on the ground with nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. His combination of striking danger and grappling ability makes him a difficult puzzle for anyone.

Tsarukyan, also 29 and ranked first in the lightweight division, enters any conversation as a legitimate title contender. The Russia-born American Top Team product holds a 23-3 record and posts a 50 percent striking accuracy mark, the highest among the three fighters discussed. His takedown rate of 3.26 per 15 minutes shows he can impose himself on the mat, though Dvalishvili clearly does not believe that output would be enough against Topuria.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, making this matchup a logical next title fight
• Dvalishvili's wrestling credentials lend weight to his analysis of the grappling dimension
• Topuria's finishing ability at 170 cm and a 175 cm reach makes the knockout prediction plausible on paper