Merab Dvalishvili has shared his thoughts on the upcoming matchup between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Merab stated that while he likes Arman and considers him a wonderful fighter, Topuria will defeat him. He believes Tsarukyan will not be able to take Topuria down and will fall into a knockout when he tries to box with Ilia. Merab also reflected on his own loss to Petr Yan, acknowledging that Yan prepared specifically for him and has a special style. He described Yan as a tough fighter who landed painful body kicks during their bout.
Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on the looming lightweight clash between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, offering a clear prediction: Topuria finishes it by knockout.
Dvalishvili, ranked first in the bantamweight division at 35 years old, carries a 21-5 record and is one of the most relentless grapplers in the sport. Fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, the Georgian averages an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that underscores just how much his game is built around controlling opponents on the canvas. His read on the Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup reflects that wrestling-first perspective — he does not believe Tsarukyan will be able to impose his own grappling on Topuria, and once the fight stays standing, he expects Ilia to put him away.
Topuria, the pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world, holds a 17-1 record and currently sits ranked second at lightweight. The 29-year-old Spaniard lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also threatens with takedowns, averaging nearly two per 15 minutes. That combination of offensive wrestling and sharp boxing makes him a difficult puzzle for any opponent, and Dvalishvili sees Tsarukyan running directly into trouble if he chooses to box with him.
Dvalishvili also addressed his own recent loss to Petr Yan, acknowledging that the bantamweight champion came in with a specific game plan tailored for him. He described Yan as a tough, calculated opponent who inflicted real damage with body kicks throughout the fight. Yan, 33, owns a 20-5 record and lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 54 percent accuracy, numbers that speak to the precision Dvalishvili encountered firsthand.
Why it matters
- Topuria enters the Tsarukyan fight ranked second at lightweight and as the top pound-for-pound fighter, meaning another strong result could cement title contention at 155 pounds.
- Dvalishvili's wrestling credentials give his takedown analysis real weight — if even he believes Tsarukyan cannot get Topuria down, it raises questions about Tsarukyan's path to victory.
- Dvalishvili's candid reflection on the Yan loss signals he understands the adjustments needed for a potential rematch.
