Merab Dvalishvili stated that while Arman Tsarukyan is a great fighter, Ilia Topuria will defeat him by knockout after Tsarukyan fails to take him down and tries to box. Merab reflected on his fight with Petr Yan, saying Yan prepared specifically for him and had a unique, tough style, landing painful body kicks. Separately, Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov for his unpaid contribution to the creation of Proper Twelve whiskey. The exact amount was not disclosed, but Lobov is reportedly satisfied with the compensation. In other news, Carlos Ulberg lost his belt at a party, and training footage of fighters including Ruffio and Chandler has been circulating.
Merab Dvalishvili has offered a bold prediction for Ilia Topuria's upcoming lightweight title defense, while a long-running financial dispute between Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov has quietly reached a resolution.
Speaking publicly, Dvalishvili expressed confidence in his Georgian teammate Topuria, arguing that Arman Tsarukyan is a quality fighter but will ultimately fall short. Dvalishvili's assessment is that once Tsarukyan fails to secure takedowns, he will resort to boxing — and that is where Topuria will find the finish. Dvalishvili also looked back at his own recent outing against Petr Yan, acknowledging that Yan came in with a tailored game plan and made life uncomfortable with sharp body kicks.
Topuria, the current pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter at 17 wins and one loss, competes at lightweight where he sits ranked second in the division. The 29-year-old out of Spain lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate and also averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a threat across all areas of the fight.
On a separate front, McGregor has paid compensation to Lobov over Lobov's unpaid role in developing the Proper Twelve Irish whiskey brand. The settlement figure was not made public, but Lobov is said to be satisfied with what he received. The 39-year-old Irish-based fighter, who carries a record of 13 wins, 15 losses, and one draw, had long maintained he contributed meaningfully to the brand without receiving his due.
Elsewhere, light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg reportedly lost his divisional belt at a party. The New Zealand fighter holds a 15-1 record and ranks third at 205 pounds. The six-foot-four City Kickboxing product owns an impressive 55 percent striking accuracy and leads the division in striking output at 6.54 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Topuria's next defense against Tsarukyan carries major lightweight division implications
- The McGregor-Lobov settlement closes a dispute that had simmered for several years
- Ulberg's mishap is a footnote, but the ranked contender remains a significant name at light heavyweight
