Merab Dvalishvili offered predictions and reflections on recent fights. He believes Ilia Topuria will defeat Arman Tsarukyan, stating that Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with him. Reflecting on his own title fight, Merab said he could have beaten anyone that night except Petr Yan, praising Yan's special preparation and tough style. He specifically mentioned Yan's painful body kicks, noting that the second one hurt so badly he had to press forward instead of running away. Separately, Conor McGregor reportedly paid compensation to Artem Lobov for his contribution to creating Proper Twelve whiskey, with the amount undisclosed but Lobov satisfied. Carlos Ulberg also lost his championship belt at a party.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record with bold predictions about his fellow Georgian Ilia Topuria, while also offering candid reflections on his own UFC bantamweight title defeat to Petr Yan.
On the subject of Topuria's upcoming lightweight bout with Arman Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili was direct: Tsarukyan will not be able to take Topuria down, and the moment he tries to box with him, he will get knocked out. Topuria, the current pound-for-pound number-one fighter at 17-1-0, enters that contest as the second-ranked lightweight contender at just 29 years old. The Spanish-Georgian finisher lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate, and his wrestling credentials — nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes — make him a genuine two-way threat.
Dvalishvili also opened up about his title loss to Petr Yan, acknowledging that he felt capable of beating anyone that night except Yan himself. He credited Yan's focused, specifically tailored preparation and pointed to the Russian's body kicks as a decisive factor. The second body kick, Dvalishvili explained, hurt him so severely that he had no choice but to press forward rather than move away.
In separate news reported alongside Dvalishvili's comments, Conor McGregor has reportedly paid Artem Lobov financial compensation for Lobov's contribution to developing Proper Twelve Irish whiskey. The exact figure was not disclosed, but Lobov is said to be satisfied with the settlement. Lobov, now 39 and fighting out of SBG Ireland, carries a professional record of 13-15-1 across his career.
Also mentioned in the same report, light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg — ranked third at 185 centimeters tall with a 77-inch reach — reportedly lost his championship belt at a party. No further details were provided.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's assessment of the Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup adds a credible insider perspective to one of the most anticipated bouts in the lightweight division
- His admission about Yan's body attack offers a rare glimpse into the tactical details that decided a title fight
- The Lobov-McGregor settlement closes a long-running dispute tied to one of combat sports' most commercially successful ventures
