Merab Dvalishvili has shared his prediction for a potential fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Dvalishvili stated he likes Tsarukyan as a fighter but believes Topuria will defeat him, claiming Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with him. Dvalishvili also reflected on his own fight with Petr Yan, acknowledging that Yan had a unique style and prepared specifically for him. He revealed that Yan's body kicks were extremely painful, forcing him to pressure forward in the second instance because he couldn't escape. Dvalishvili stated that on that particular day, he could have beaten everyone except Yan.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record with a bold prediction for a potential lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, backing his Georgian compatriot Topuria to finish Tsarukyan by knockout.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and sits as the number-one ranked bantamweight out of Georgia, competing for the Serra-Longo Fight Team. Known for a relentless wrestling-based style that produces 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, he expressed respect for Tsarukyan as a fighter before firmly siding with Topuria. His reasoning: Tsarukyan will not be able to take Topuria down, and if he tries to trade on the feet, he will get knocked out.
Topuria, 29, currently holds a 17-1 record and is ranked second at lightweight while sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Spanish-based fighter out of Climent Club stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, a combination that has made him one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport.
Dvalishvili also reflected candidly on his own recent defeat to Petr Yan. He acknowledged that Yan, 33, brought a unique style and prepared specifically to neutralize him. Yan, a switch-stance fighter who lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, used body kicks that Dvalishvili described as extremely painful, ultimately forcing him to press forward rather than create distance. Dvalishvili was candid in admitting that on that particular night, he felt capable of beating anyone on the roster except Yan.
Why it matters
- Topuria at number two in the lightweight division makes a fight with any top contender a title-picture event
- Dvalishvili's wrestling credentials lend weight to his assessment of Tsarukyan's takedown prospects against Topuria
- The reflection on the Yan loss offers rare transparency from a top-two pound-for-pound fighter about a tactical defeat
