Merab Dvalishvili shared his thoughts on the upcoming Topuria vs. Tsarukyan fight, predicting that Ilia will knock out Arman when the Dagestani fighter tries to box with him. He believes Arman won't be able to take Topuria down. Regarding his own loss to Petr Yan, Merab acknowledged that Yan prepared specifically for him and hurt him badly with body kicks. The pain from Yan's second body kick was so severe that Merab had to charge forward because he couldn't escape. In other news, Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov for his unpaid contribution to Proper Twelve whiskey, though the amount remains undisclosed, and Carlos Ulberg reportedly lost his belt at a party.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting a knockout victory for Ilia Topuria in the upcoming lightweight clash against Arman Tsarukyan, while also reflecting candidly on his own recent defeat to Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili's assessment of the Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup is straightforward: he believes Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down, and that if the Dagestani opts to box, Topuria will put him away. It is a bold forecast in support of the pound-for-pound number-one ranked fighter in the sport.
Topuria, 29, enters the contest with a 17-1-0 record and holds the number-two ranking at lightweight. The Spain-based Georgian is one of the more complete fighters in the division, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. Those wrestling numbers lend weight to Dvalishvili's claim that Tsarukyan's grappling path to victory may be difficult to execute.
On the topic of his own loss to Petr Yan, Dvalishvili offered an honest assessment. He acknowledged that Yan prepared specifically for him and that body kicks proved to be the decisive weapon. The pain from Yan's second body kick was severe enough that Dvalishvili felt compelled to charge forward simply because he had no other way to escape it.
Separately, Conor McGregor has paid an undisclosed sum to Artem Lobov as compensation for Lobov's unpaid contribution to the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov, 39, is a southpaw fighter out of SBG Ireland who carries a 13-15-1 professional record. The financial terms of the settlement were not made public.
Also making headlines, light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg reportedly lost his title belt at a party. Ulberg, 35, is ranked third at 205 pounds and holds a 15-1-0 record, fighting out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the New Zealander is among the division's more physically imposing talents, averaging 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
