Merab Dvalishvili stated that Ilia Topuria will defeat Arman Tsarukyan, predicting that Arman won't be able to take Ilia down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with him. Dvalishvili also reflected on his loss to Petr Yan, explaining that Yan's body kicks caused severe pain and forced him to move forward into strikes. Additionally, Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov for his contribution to creating Proper Twelve whiskey, with Lobov reportedly satisfied with the amount though the specific sum was not disclosed. The post also mentions that Carlos Ulberg lost his belt at a party and that Alex Pereira's physique in recent heavy training footage differed from fan expectations.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will stop Arman Tsarukyan, while Conor McGregor has resolved a long-running financial dispute with Artem Lobov over the Proper Twelve whiskey brand.
Dvalishvili, Topuria's longtime training partner and close friend, argued that Tsarukyan will struggle to bring the fight to the ground and will be knocked out the moment he attempts to engage in a boxing exchange. Topuria, the number-two ranked lightweight and the current pound-for-pound top fighter in the sport, carries a 17-1-0 record and has shown why those concerns are well-founded — the 29-year-old Spaniard lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate, while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes of his own.
Dvalishvili also used the opportunity to address his own career, reflecting on his defeat to Petr Yan and explaining that Yan's body kicks caused him significant pain and effectively pushed him forward into oncoming strikes, disrupting his usual aggressive rhythm.
On a separate front, McGregor has paid Lobov a financial settlement for Lobov's role in developing Proper Twelve Irish whiskey. Lobov, 39, expressed satisfaction with the undisclosed amount. The Russian-born Irish-based fighter, who compiles a 13-15-1 professional record, had long maintained that his early contribution to the brand deserved compensation.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's public prediction adds narrative heat to what is already one of the most anticipated lightweight bouts on the horizon, with both Topuria and Tsarukyan ranked at the top of the division.
- The McGregor-Lobov settlement closes a chapter of a business dispute that had drawn attention well beyond the sport.
- Dvalishvili's candid breakdown of the Yan loss offers rare insight into how a single tactical adjustment — body kicks — can dismantle an otherwise high-volume pressure fighter.
