Merab Dvalishvili has shared his prediction for a potential fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, stating that Topuria will win. According to Dvalishvili, Tsarukyan will not be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with Ilia. Dvalishvili also reflected on his own fight with Petr Yan, praising Yan's preparation and toughness. He described Yan's body kicks as extremely painful, particularly one that came late in a round that forced him to push forward rather than retreat. In other news mentioned in the same post, Carlos Ulberg reportedly lost his belt at a party.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record with a bold prediction for a prospective lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, declaring that Topuria will finish Tsarukyan by knockout.
Dvalishvili, 35, is one of the most relentless grapplers in the UFC at any weight class. The Georgian carries a 21-5 record and sits ranked first in the bantamweight division, averaging an elite 6.4 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. He argued that Tsarukyan will be unable to get the fight to the mat against Topuria, and that if Tsarukyan chooses to stand and trade, he will pay for it with a knockout loss.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and the current pound-for-pound number one at 29 years old, brings a 17-1 record to his name. The Spain-based Georgian finisher lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and Dvalishvili's assessment leans heavily on that proven finishing power as the decisive factor.
Dvalishvili also reflected on his own recent experience against Petr Yan, offering praise for Yan's preparation and durability. He singled out Yan's body kicks as particularly punishing, noting that one kick late in a round was severe enough to force him to press forward rather than create distance — a telling detail from a fighter known for his own relentless forward pressure.
Why it matters
- Topuria at lightweight remains one of the division's most anticipated storylines, and endorsements of his finishing ability from top-ranked peers carry weight
- Dvalishvili's insider perspective on Tsarukyan's grappling limitations adds a credible tactical dimension to the matchup discussion
- Separately, light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg — ranked third at 193 cm and carrying a 15-1 record — reportedly lost his belt at a party, though further details remain unclear
