Merab Dvalishvili stated that while he likes Arman Tsarukyan and considers him a great fighter, he believes Ilia Topuria will defeat him. Merab predicts Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with Ilia. Reflecting on his own fight with Petr Yan, Merab said he could have beaten anyone that day except Yan, noting that Yan specifically prepared for him with a unique style. He recalled that Yan's body kicks were extremely painful, forcing him to push forward into strikes because he couldn't escape the pain. Additionally, the post mentions that Conor McGregor has paid Artem Lobov compensation for his contribution to creating Proper Twelve, with Lobov reportedly satisfied with the undisclosed amount.
Merab Dvalishvili has shared his prediction for the upcoming lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, while also opening up about his own career setback against Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, the number-one ranked bantamweight contender, holds a 21-5-0 record and fights out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. The 35-year-old Georgian is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. Despite his admiration for Tsarukyan, whom he called a great fighter, Dvalishvili is firmly in Topuria's corner for their matchup. He predicted that Tsarukyan will be unable to get Topuria to the canvas and will eventually be knocked out trying to engage in a boxing exchange.
Topuria, currently ranked number two at lightweight and the pound-for-pound top fighter in the world, carries a 17-1-0 record. The 29-year-old Spaniard lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also poses a grappling threat, averaging 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes. Dvalishvili's assessment leans heavily on Topuria's dangerous hands and his ability to neutralize wrestling attempts.
Dvalishvili also reflected candidly on his loss to Petr Yan, saying he felt capable of beating virtually anyone that night except Yan himself. He noted that Yan had studied him thoroughly and arrived with a tailored game plan. In particular, Dvalishvili described Yan's body kicks as agonizing, explaining that the pain forced him to crowd Yan and walk into punches rather than maintain distance.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's insight on Topuria carries weight given his deep ties to the Georgian MMA community and his own elite-level experience
- His Yan reflection underscores how targeted preparation can neutralize even the most high-volume fighters
- Separately, Conor McGregor has paid Artem Lobov, the 39-year-old Irish-based fighter with a 13-15-1 record, an undisclosed sum as compensation for Lobov's role in developing the Proper Twelve whiskey brand, with Lobov reported to be satisfied with the settlement
