Merab Dvalishvili stated that while he likes Arman Tsarukyan and considers him a great fighter, Ilia Topuria will defeat him. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with Ilia. He also reflected on his loss to Petr Yan, saying Yan prepared specifically for him and had a unique style. Dvalishvili noted that Yan's body kicks were extremely painful, especially the second one which hurt so badly he had to move forward into strikes because he couldn't run away. He emphasized that on that day, he could have beaten everyone except Petr Yan.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will knock out Arman Tsarukyan, while also opening up about the painful defeat that remains a blemish on his otherwise dominant résumé.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and is currently ranked first in the bantamweight division with a number-two spot on the pound-for-pound list. The Georgian wrestler, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the most relentless pressure fighters in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — a figure that reflects just how suffocating his grappling game can be.
Speaking in a recent interview, Dvalishvili expressed respect for Tsarukyan but made clear he sees only one outcome when Tsarukyan faces Topuria. He believes Tsarukyan will be unable to get the fight to the ground, and that the moment he commits to a boxing exchange, Topuria will finish him. Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1 record and currently sits second in the lightweight rankings while holding the number-one pound-for-pound position. The Spain-based Georgian lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and his finishing ability has been the defining feature of his rise.
Dvalishvili also reflected on his own loss to Petr Yan, offering a candid account of how the fight unfolded. He described Yan as having prepared a specific game plan tailored to neutralize him, and singled out Yan's body kicks as particularly damaging. The second one, he said, hurt so badly that retreating was not an option — he had to walk forward into punches simply to survive the pain. He concluded that on that night, he felt capable of beating anyone in the world except Yan.
Yan, 33, carries a 20-5 record and holds the bantamweight title. He lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 54 percent accuracy, numbers that help explain why his body attack proved so difficult to handle.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's Topuria prediction adds a notable voice to the buildup around one of lightweight's most anticipated matchups
- His self-assessment of the Yan loss offers rare honesty about how a champion-caliber fighter can be outmaneuvered by a tailored game plan
- As the top-ranked bantamweight contender, Dvalishvili's public comments carry weight in shaping divisional narratives at 135 pounds
