Merab Dvalishvili stated that while Arman Tsarukyan is a great fighter, Ilia Topuria will defeat him. He believes Arman will be unable to take Ilia down and will get knocked out when trying to box with him. Separately, Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov for unpaid contributions to the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. The exact amount of compensation was not disclosed, but Lobov is reported to be satisfied with the settlement. The post also mentions that Carlos Ulberg lost his belt at a party and includes brief training updates on other fighters.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will knock out Arman Tsarukyan, while a separate long-running financial dispute between Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov has reached a resolution.
Speaking publicly, Dvalishvili expressed confidence in his Georgian teammate Topuria, arguing that Tsarukyan will be unable to take the lightweight contender down and will be stopped when he attempts to trade punches with him. Dvalishvili acknowledged Tsarukyan as a high-level fighter but maintained the outcome is inevitable once the fight goes to the striking game.
Topuria, 29, enters any future lightweight matchup as the number-two-ranked contender in the division and the current pound-for-pound number one on the AgentMMA rankings. The Spain-based Georgian holds a 17-1-0 record and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded profile that underpins Dvalishvili's confidence in his ability to neutralize Tsarukyan's grappling.
On a separate matter, McGregor has paid Lobov compensation related to unpaid contributions to the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. The exact figure was not disclosed, but Lobov is reported to be satisfied with the settlement. Lobov, 39, fought out of SBG Ireland and compiled a 13-15-1 professional record across his career, with a southpaw striking style that produced 3.52 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's prediction adds narrative weight to what would be a high-stakes lightweight title eliminator or title fight involving Topuria
- Topuria's combination of volume striking and takedown ability is central to Dvalishvili's argument about the Tsarukyan stylistic matchup
- The McGregor-Lobov settlement closes a chapter on one of MMA's more prominent business disputes outside the cage
- Carlos Ulberg, the number-three-ranked light heavyweight at 15-1-0, was also mentioned in passing after reportedly misplacing a belt at a social event
