Merab Dvalishvili shared his predictions and reflections on recent fights. He believes Ilia Topuria will knock out 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. Merab also discussed his loss to Petr Yan, crediting Yan's unique fighting style and thorough preparation. He specifically highlighted Yan's painful body kicks, saying the pain from the second kick was so intense that he had to push forward into the strikes because he couldn't escape. In other news, Conor McGregor has compensated Artem Lobov for his unpaid contribution to creating Proper Twelve whiskey, with Lobov reportedly satisfied with the undisclosed amount. Carlos Ulberg lost his belt at a party, and fighters like Ruffie and Chandler have been training intensely.
Merab Dvalishvili opened up on his loss to Petr Yan, the Topuria-Tsarukyan lightweight title picture, and a resolution to the long-running Conor McGregor and Artem Lobov business dispute in a wide-ranging interview published April 16.
Reflecting on his defeat to Yan, Dvalishvili credited the Russian's unorthodox style and detailed preparation as key factors. He singled out Yan's body kicks as the most damaging element of the bout, describing the pain from the second kick as so severe that he felt compelled to press forward into the strikes rather than retreat, simply because backing away was not an option.
Dvalishvili also weighed in on the anticipated lightweight clash between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. He was direct in his assessment: Tsarukyan will not be able to get the fight to the ground, and the moment he tries to exchange on the feet, Topuria will knock him out. Topuria, 29, holds a 17-1 record, currently ranks second in the lightweight division, and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him options even if the grappling exchanges do develop.
In a separate development, Conor McGregor has settled his financial dispute with former teammate Artem Lobov, 39, compensating him for his unpaid role in developing the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. The amount was not disclosed, but Lobov was reported to be satisfied with the outcome. Lobov, who carries a 13-15-1 professional record, had long maintained that his contribution to the brand went unrecognized.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's firsthand account of Yan's body kicks offers rare insight into how that style disrupts even elite wrestlers
- His Topuria prediction adds credible fighter perspective to one of the most anticipated lightweight title fights in recent memory
- The McGregor-Lobov settlement closes a public and contentious chapter between two former SBG Ireland teammates
