Merab Dvalishvili stated that while he likes Arman Tsarukyan as a fighter, he believes Ilia Topuria will defeat him. Merab predicts Tsarukyan will fail to take Topuria down and will be knocked out when he tries to box with Ilia. Separately, Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov for his unpaid contribution to the creation of the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. The exact amount was not disclosed, but Lobov is reportedly satisfied with the settlement. Merab also reflected on his fight with Petr Yan, noting that Yan's body kicks caused significant pain and forced him to pressure forward rather than escape.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will finish Arman Tsarukyan by knockout when the two lightweights collide, while a separate long-running dispute between Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov over the Proper Twelve whiskey brand has reached a financial resolution.
The bantamweight world number one and pound-for-pound number two contender, Dvalishvili carries a 21-5 record and has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and elite wrestling, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. The 35-year-old Georgian, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, expressed genuine respect for Tsarukyan but was direct in his assessment: he believes Tsarukyan will fail to secure takedowns against Topuria and will be knocked out once the fight becomes a striking exchange.
That prediction centers on Topuria, the reigning pound-for-pound number one and lightweight division's second-ranked fighter. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1 record and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.81 per minute with 48 percent accuracy. Topuria also offers a credible defensive wrestling threat of his own, averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, which could neutralize Tsarukyan's grappling-forward approach.
In separate news, McGregor has reached a financial settlement with Lobov over unpaid contributions to the creation of the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand. Lobov, the 39-year-old Ireland-based fighter who carries a 13-15-1 record, was reportedly satisfied with the undisclosed compensation. The exact figure was not made public.
Dvalishvili also offered a candid look back at his fight with Petr Yan, revealing that Yan's body kicks caused serious pain during the contest and forced him to push forward rather than look for an exit, a tactic consistent with his naturally aggressive, pressure-heavy style.
Why it matters
- Topuria's upcoming lightweight bout carries massive divisional weight, with the pound-for-pound crown on the line
- Dvalishvili's wrestling-focused perspective lends credibility to the tactical breakdown of Tsarukyan's likely game plan
- The McGregor-Lobov settlement closes a public financial dispute that had shadowed the Proper Twelve brand for years
