Merab Dvalishvili has offered his prediction for a potential matchup between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, stating that Topuria will defeat Tsarukyan. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down and will eventually fall to a knockout when he attempts to box with the Georgian champion. Reflecting on his own loss to Petr Yan, Dvalishvili stated he could have beaten anyone that day except Yan, praising Yan's unique style and toughness. Dvalishvili specifically mentioned that Yan's body kicks caused severe pain, with one kick late in a round forcing him to pressure forward because he couldn't escape. In other news, Carlos Ulberg reportedly lost his championship belt at a party, while both Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler have been training intensely.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria would finish Arman Tsarukyan by knockout if the two were to meet, while also opening up about the painful reality of his own loss to Petr Yan.
Topuria, 29, carries a 17-1-0 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight division while holding the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, the Georgian-born finisher lands an impressive 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous offensive fighters in any division. Dvalishvili's assessment is straightforward: Tsarukyan will be unable to secure takedowns against Topuria, and once the fight becomes a boxing match, the champion's power will prove decisive.
On the subject of his own career, Dvalishvili reflected candidly on his defeat to Petr Yan, stating he felt capable of beating anyone that night — with Yan as the sole exception. He credited Yan's unorthodox style and toughness as factors that neutralized his usual strengths. Dvalishvili singled out Yan's body kicks as particularly damaging, noting that one late-round kick left him in enough pain that pressing forward was his only option rather than a strategic choice.
Why it matters
- Topuria at number two lightweight and number one pound-for-pound makes any discussion of his next opponent a divisional headline
- A potential Topuria vs. Tsarukyan matchup would carry significant title implications at 155 pounds
- Dvalishvili's Yan comments offer rare candor about a loss and highlight how elite stylistic variety can neutralize even top contenders
Elsewhere in lighter news, featherweight contender Carlos Ulberg reportedly misplaced his championship belt at a party, while both Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler have been putting in heavy training camp work, keeping the lightweight division active on multiple fronts.
