Merab Dvalishvili has shared his prediction that Ilia Topuria will defeat Arman Tsarukyan, stating that Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when attempting to box with him. Dvalishvili also reflected on his fight with Petr Yan, saying he could have beaten anyone that night except Yan, who had specifically prepared for him. He praised Yan's unique style and toughness, particularly noting painful body kicks that forced him to pressure forward rather than retreat. Dvalishvili emphasized that Yan's body kick in the second instance was especially painful, leaving him unable to escape. He described Yan as a special fighter who came exceptionally well-prepared for their bout.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will stop Arman Tsarukyan, while also offering a candid reflection on his own defeat to bantamweight champion Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, ranked first in the bantamweight division and second in the pound-for-pound standings, holds a 21-5 record and competes out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team. The 35-year-old Georgian is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — a volume that defines nearly every fight he takes. Speaking publicly, he suggested that on that particular night against Yan, he felt capable of beating any opponent — except the one standing across from him.
His praise for Yan was pointed and specific. The Russian champion, whose record sits at 20-5-0, switches stances and lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect the kind of sharp, precise offense Dvalishvili described. Dvalishvili noted that Yan's body kicks were particularly damaging, forcing him to move forward rather than create distance, and that a second body kick left him unable to escape. He called Yan a special fighter who arrived exceptionally well-prepared.
On the lightweight picture, Dvalishvili's prediction centers on Topuria's finishing power. The 29-year-old Spaniard, ranked second at lightweight and first pound-for-pound overall, carries a 17-1 record and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute. Dvalishvili's view is that Tsarukyan will find it impossible to take Topuria down and will be knocked out if he chooses to box with him.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's comments add external perspective on the lightweight title picture heading into a high-stakes matchup
- His account of the Yan fight offers rare insight into how the bantamweight champion neutralized one of the division's most dangerous wrestlers
- Yan's combination of body work and preparation, as described, underlines why he holds champion status at 33
