Merab Dvalishvili shared his thoughts on the upcoming Ilia Topuria vs Arman Tsarukyan matchup, stating that while he likes Arman and considers him a wonderful fighter, Topuria will defeat him. Merab believes Tsarukyan won't 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, saying that on that day he could have beaten everyone except Petr, who had specifically prepared for him with a unique style. He mentioned that Yan's body kicks were extremely painful, forcing him to move forward into strikes during their second exchange because he couldn't escape the pain.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will stop Arman Tsarukyan in their upcoming lightweight matchup, warning that Tsarukyan will get knocked out if he tries to exchange on the feet with "El Matador."
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and sits ranked first in the bantamweight division with a number-two spot on the pound-for-pound rankings. The Georgian wrestler, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the sport's most relentless grapplers, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. His comments carry weight given his familiarity with top-level competition across multiple weight classes.
On Tsarukyan's chances, Dvalishvili was direct. He acknowledged Tsarukyan as a wonderful fighter but argued the Armenian contender will be unable to take Topuria down — and that standing with Ilia would be a costly mistake. Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1 record and currently holds the number-two ranking in the lightweight division while sitting atop the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Spain for Climent Club, the orthodox finisher lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, making him a serious knockout threat at 170 cm tall with a 175 cm reach.
Dvalishvili also opened up about his own loss to Petr Yan, reflecting that he felt capable of beating virtually anyone that night — except Yan, who had prepared a specific and unusual style tailored to disrupt him. Yan, the current bantamweight champion, averages 5.12 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 54 percent accuracy. Dvalishvili singled out Yan's body kicks as particularly damaging, saying the pain forced him to move forward directly into strikes during their second exchange rather than create distance.
Why it matters
- Topuria's knockout power at lightweight is underlined by a fighter who has competed at the sport's highest level
- Dvalishvili's wrestling benchmark makes his assessment of Tsarukyan's takedown prospects notably credible
- His candid breakdown of the Yan loss adds rare detail to one of bantamweight's most closely studied rivalries
