Merab Dvalishvili has shared his prediction for a potential matchup between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Dvalishvili stated he likes Tsarukyan as a fighter, calling him wonderful, but believes Topuria will defeat him. Merab predicts Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with Ilia. Dvalishvili also reflected on his fight with Petr Yan, saying Yan was the only one who could have beaten him that day. He praised Yan's preparation and unique style, noting that Yan's body kicks were extremely painful and forced him to pressure forward because he couldn't escape.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria would knock out Arman Tsarukyan if the two ever share the octagon, while also offering candid reflections on his own outing against Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, 35, is the top-ranked bantamweight contender from Georgia with a professional record of 21-5-0 and one of the most relentless wrestling games in the division. Competing out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — a figure that underlines just how seriously he takes his grappling identity. That background informs his read on lightweight matchups: he believes Tsarukyan will struggle to bring the fight to the ground against Topuria, and that the moment Tsarukyan tries to box with him, a knockout will follow.
Topuria, the pound-for-pound number-one fighter at 17-1-0, now competes at lightweight after previously holding the featherweight title. The 29-year-old Spaniard averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also adds 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes — making him dangerous in multiple areas. Dvalishvili's view is that Topuria's finishing power will be the deciding factor in any striking exchange.
Why it matters
- Topuria sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and number one pound-for-pound, so any matchup at 155 pounds carries title implications.
- Dvalishvili's wrestling expertise gives his tactical breakdown of a potential Topuria-Tsarukyan bout a credible lens.
- His comments on Yan also shed light on a bantamweight division where Yan, the reigning champion, holds a 20-5-0 record and lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy.
On the subject of Yan, Dvalishvili was forthright in acknowledging the Russian's quality, saying Yan was the only fighter who could have beaten him that night. He singled out Yan's body kicks as particularly damaging, explaining they forced him to keep pressing forward because moving away was not a viable option — an honest admission from a fighter not known for conceding ground easily.
