Merab Dvalishvili has offered his prediction for a potential fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, stating that Topuria will knock out Tsarukyan when he attempts to box with him. Dvalishvili praised Tsarukyan as a great fighter but believes he won't be able to take Topuria down. Additionally, Dvalishvili reflected on his loss to Petr Yan, admitting he could have beaten everyone that day except Yan. He described Yan's body kicks as exceptionally painful, particularly noting one strike with 25 seconds remaining that forced him to press forward rather than retreat. Dvalishvili credited Yan's unique style and thorough preparation as key factors in that defeat.
Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on a potential lightweight clash between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, predicting that Topuria will finish Tsarukyan by knockout if Tsarukyan chooses to engage in a boxing match with him. Dvalishvili also used the opportunity to reflect candidly on his own loss to Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and is ranked first in the bantamweight division, sitting second in the pound-for-pound standings. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the sport's most relentless grapplers, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per fifteen minutes. In his comments, he acknowledged Tsarukyan as a high-level competitor but expressed doubt that Tsarukyan would be able to get the fight to the ground against Topuria.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and the current pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world, carries a 17-1 record at just 29 years old. Fighting out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, the orthodox striker lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also threatens with nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes, giving him a well-rounded profile that Dvalishvili clearly respects.
On the subject of his own defeat to bantamweight champion Petr Yan, Dvalishvili was frank. He said he felt capable of beating anyone that night except Yan. He pointed specifically to Yan's body kicks as a decisive factor, singling out one particularly damaging strike in the final 25 seconds of a round that altered his tactical approach and forced him to press forward rather than create distance. He credited Yan's distinctive style and the thoroughness of his preparation as the primary reasons for the outcome.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's prediction adds high-profile attention to a potential Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup with major lightweight title implications
- His self-assessment of the Yan loss offers a rare, detailed look at how Yan, who averages 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, neutralized one of the division's top contenders
- The comments reinforce Yan's standing as bantamweight champion and a uniquely difficult stylistic puzzle
