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 be knocked out when trying to box with him. Dvalishvili also discussed his own fight with Petr Yan, saying Yan prepared specifically for him and had a unique style that made him tough. He mentioned that Yan's body kicks were extremely painful, forcing him to press forward rather than retreat. In other news mentioned in the post, Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov for his contribution to Proper Twelve whiskey, and Carlos Ulberg reportedly lost his belt at a party.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will stop Arman Tsarukyan, expressing confidence that the lightweight contender has no path to victory against the Georgian-Spanish champion.
Dvalishvili acknowledged Tsarukyan's qualities, describing him as a great fighter, but argued that the Armenian contender will be unable to execute his wrestling against Topuria. Should Tsarukyan resort to boxing instead, Dvalishvili believes he will walk into a knockout. The assessment carries weight given Dvalishvili's close relationship with Topuria and his firsthand familiarity with elite competition at the top of the UFC.
Topuria, 29, holds a 17-1-0 record and is currently ranked second in the lightweight division while sitting at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, he lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate and also averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded threat profile.
Dvalishvili also reflected on his own experience fighting Petr Yan, noting that Yan had prepared specifically for him and brought an unusual style that created serious problems. He singled out Yan's body kicks as particularly damaging, explaining that the pain forced him to move forward rather than give ground.
Separately, the post touched on two peripheral stories. Conor McGregor has paid compensation to Artem Lobov, 39, in recognition of Lobov's contribution to the Proper Twelve whiskey brand. Lobov, a southpaw fighting out of SBG Ireland, holds a 13-15-1 professional record. Additionally, light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg reportedly lost his belt at a party. The New Zealand-born City Kickboxing product is ranked third at 205 pounds and carries a 15-1-0 record, standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- Topuria versus Tsarukyan is a high-stakes lightweight title picture matchup, and Dvalishvili's read adds narrative weight to the rivalry
- If Tsarukyan cannot utilize his grappling, his path to victory narrows considerably against one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters
- The Lobov-McGregor settlement closes a long-running dispute tied to one of combat sports' most commercially successful ventures
