Merab Dvalishvili has offered his prediction for the upcoming Ilia Topuria versus Arman Tsarukyan bout, stating that while he likes Arman as a fighter, Topuria will win by knockout. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down and will fall when attempting to box with him. In separate comments, Dvalishvili reflected on his loss to Petr Yan, explaining that he could have beaten anyone else that night except Yan, who had specifically prepared for him and possessed a unique style. He described the pain from Yan's body kicks as so severe that he had to press forward into strikes because he couldn't escape, with the second kick being particularly devastating.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record with a bold forecast for the lightweight showdown between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, predicting Topuria stops Tsarukyan by knockout. The bantamweight contender also opened up about his own recent defeat to Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and sits as the number-one ranked bantamweight out of Georgia, training out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. Known for one of the most relentless wrestling games in the division — averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — "The Machine" brings credibility when analyzing grappling-heavy matchups. His prediction centers on Tsarukyan's inability to secure takedowns against Topuria, and he believes Tsarukyan will be hurt if the fight becomes a striking exchange.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 17-1 record and fights out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club. The 29-year-old orthodox striker lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and also averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him dangerous in multiple areas. Dvalishvili's assessment is that "El Matador" has the tools to neutralize Tsarukyan wherever the fight goes.
On the subject of his own loss, Dvalishvili was candid. He said Yan had prepared specifically for him and possessed a style unlike anyone else he has faced. The bantamweight champion Petr Yan, 33, is a switch-stance fighter with a 20-5 record who lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 54 percent accuracy. Dvalishvili described Yan's body kicks as uniquely punishing, explaining the pain was so severe that he was forced to crowd into the strikes rather than create distance, with the second body kick proving especially damaging.
Why it matters
- Topuria versus Tsarukyan is a lightweight title-contention fight, and Dvalishvili's wrestling-based read on Tsarukyan's takedown prospects carries weight given his own elite grappling background.
- Dvalishvili remains the number-one ranked bantamweight at 21-5, keeping his comments on Yan relevant to the title picture in that division.
- Yan's ability to game-plan specifically for opponents, underlined by his 54 percent striking accuracy, reinforces why Dvalishvili views the loss as a unique circumstance rather than a general shortcoming.
