Merab Dvalishvili has shared his predictions about a potential fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Dvalishvili stated that while he likes Arman and believes he is a wonderful fighter, Topuria will defeat him. He predicts that Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down and will be knocked out when he tries to box with Ilia. Dvalishvili also reflected on his own fight with Petr Yan, noting that Yan was particularly well-prepared and has a special style. He described painful body kicks from Yan that forced him to push forward rather than retreat during their bout.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record with a bold prediction for a potential lightweight showdown between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, backing his Georgian compatriot to finish Tsarukyan by knockout.
Dvalishvili, the number-one ranked bantamweight contender out of Georgia, carries a 21-5 record and is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the UFC. The 35-year-old Serra-Longo Fight Team member averages an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, making his read on grappling dynamics particularly noteworthy. He said he respects Tsarukyan as a wonderful fighter but is firm in his belief that Topuria wins the matchup.
His reasoning is straightforward: Dvalishvili does not believe Tsarukyan will be able to take Topuria down, and once the fight becomes a standup battle, he sees Topuria landing the decisive blow. Topuria, the pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world, holds a 17-1 record and competes at lightweight ranked second in the division. The 29-year-old Spaniard averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, with the power to finish fights on the feet.
Dvalishvili also reflected on his own recent experience against Petr Yan, the bantamweight champion. He acknowledged that Yan, who lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 54 percent accuracy, came in exceptionally prepared and presented a style unlike most opponents. Dvalishvili described absorbing painful body kicks from the 33-year-old Russian that altered his movement, forcing him to press forward rather than create distance the way he typically prefers.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's wrestling expertise lends credibility to his assessment of the Topuria-Tsarukyan grappling dynamic
- A Topuria victory over Tsarukyan would have significant implications at the top of the lightweight division, where Topuria is already ranked second
- Dvalishvili's candid comments about Yan offer rare insight into what made the bantamweight champion difficult to solve
