Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on the potential matchup between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, predicting that Topuria will knock out Tsarukyan. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will fall when he tries to box with the Georgian champion. Discussing his own fight with Petr Yan, Dvalishvili revealed that Yan's body kicks were extremely painful, noting that on the second occasion he had to press forward through the pain because he couldn't escape. He also stated he could have beaten everyone that day except Yan, crediting Yan's unique style and thorough preparation.
Merab Dvalishvili has shared his prediction for a potential lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, forecasting a knockout victory for Topuria while also opening up about the physical toll of his own contest against Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, 35, is the top-ranked bantamweight contender and sits second in the pound-for-pound standings with a 21-5 record. Fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, the Georgian is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the division, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. Despite that grappling dominance, he spoke candidly about how Yan's body kicks caused him serious pain during their fight, revealing that on the second occasion a kick landed, he had no way to escape and had to simply push through it. He credited Yan's distinct style and meticulous preparation, stating he felt capable of beating anyone that night — with Yan as the lone exception.
On the lightweight picture, Dvalishvili expressed confidence in Topuria, currently ranked second at 155 pounds and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world at 17-1. The 29-year-old Spaniard, standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also contributes nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. Dvalishvili's view is straightforward: Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down, and if the fight becomes a boxing match, Topuria will finish him.
Why it matters
- Topuria's path at lightweight is clarifying, and a No. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter publicly backing a Tsarukyan knockout adds weight to that narrative.
- Dvalishvili's comments on Yan offer rare insight into how the bantamweight champion's striking, particularly 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, creates problems even elite opposition struggles to solve.
- The remarks reinforce Yan's standing as a uniquely dangerous stylistic problem at 135 pounds despite not holding a divisional ranking in this matchup context.
