Merab Dvalishvili has offered his prediction for a potential bout between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Dvalishvili stated that while he likes Tsarukyan and considers him a wonderful fighter, Topuria will defeat him. The Georgian predicts Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down and will ultimately be knocked out when forced to box with the featherweight. Dvalishvili also reflected on his own experience fighting Petr Yan, calling Yan a special and tough fighter who hurt him badly with body kicks. He praised Yan's preparation and unique fighting style, noting the pain forced him to move forward rather than retreat.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record with a bold prediction for a potential lightweight showdown between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, backing his fellow Georgian to finish Tsarukyan by knockout.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and is the top-ranked bantamweight in the UFC. Fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, the Georgian is one of the division's most relentless wrestlers, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. Despite his grappling-heavy identity, he acknowledged that Tsarukyan is a wonderful fighter — but argued the Armenian-Russian contender will be unable to take Topuria down, and that once the fight becomes a boxing match, Topuria will put him away.
Topuria, 29, currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and holds the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 17-1 record. Fighting out of Spain under the banner of Climent Club, the orthodox striker stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. Dvalishvili's assessment hinges on that punching power proving decisive if Tsarukyan cannot find success on the mat.
Dvalishvili also reflected on his own recent experience against bantamweight champion Petr Yan. The Russian titleholder, 33, carries a 20-5 record and lands an imposing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy fighting out of a switch stance. Dvalishvili described Yan as a special and uniquely prepared fighter, revealing that Yan's body kicks hurt him badly enough that the pain actually drove him forward rather than back — an unusual reaction he credited to Yan's distinct style.
Why it matters
- Topuria, the pound-for-pound number one, is now competing at lightweight, making his divisional path a major story
- Dvalishvili's wrestling-based read on the matchup adds credibility to the argument that Tsarukyan's takedown game will be the decisive factor
- His candid comments on Yan offer a rare inside look at what makes the bantamweight champion so difficult to face
