Merab Dvalishvili shared his prediction for a potential Ilia Topuria versus Arman Tsarukyan matchup, stating that while he likes Tsarukyan and considers him a great fighter, Topuria will defeat him. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with him. Additionally, Dvalishvili reflected on his fight with Petr Yan, saying Yan was the only one who could have beaten him that day due to special preparation and tough style, particularly painful body kicks. The post also mentions Conor McGregor paying compensation to Artem Lobov for his contribution to Proper Twelve whiskey, and notes that Carlos Ulberg lost his belt at a party.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria would finish Arman Tsarukyan by knockout if the two lightweights were to meet, offering a pointed breakdown of why he believes Tsarukyan would come up short.
Dvalishvili, 35, is the top-ranked bantamweight contender out of Georgia with a 21-5 record and fights out of Serra-Longo Fight Team. Known for one of the most suffocating wrestling games in the sport — averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — he nonetheless offered a clear-eyed view of the lightweight picture above his own division. He expressed genuine respect for Tsarukyan, calling him a great fighter, but was firm in his belief that the Armenian contender would be unable to drag Topuria to the mat. Once Tsarukyan resorts to boxing, Dvalishvili argued, Topuria will put him away.
That assessment leans on a real foundation. Topuria, 29 and fighting out of Spain, carries a 17-1 record and currently sits second in the lightweight rankings while holding the number-one pound-for-pound spot. The southpaw-threatening orthodox striker lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also adds a credible wrestling layer, averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. His reach of 69 inches gives him tools across multiple ranges.
Dvalishvili also reflected on his own loss to Petr Yan, acknowledging that Yan — the current bantamweight champion with a 20-5 record and a striking accuracy of 54 percent — was uniquely prepared that night and caused him particular trouble with hard body kicks. He credited Yan's special camp and difficult style as the deciding factors.
Why it matters
- A Topuria versus Tsarukyan fight would be a title-eliminator or title fight at 155 pounds with major divisional consequences
- Dvalishvili's wrestling expertise lends weight to his read on whether Tsarukyan can execute a takedown-based game plan
- His comments on Yan add context to the bantamweight title picture, where Dvalishvili remains the division's top contender
