Merab Dvalishvili stated that while he likes Arman Tsarukyan and considers him an excellent fighter, Ilia Topuria will defeat him. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan will not be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with the Georgian champion. Regarding his own past fight with Petr Yan, Dvalishvili said he could have beaten everyone that night except Yan, praising Yan's unique style and toughness. He described being hit twice with painful body kicks by Yan, the second of which hurt so badly he had to press forward rather than retreat. Dvalishvili emphasized that Yan truly prepared specifically for him and was an exceptionally tough opponent.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will stop Arman Tsarukyan, while also opening up about the punishment he absorbed in his own past bout against Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, the number-one ranked bantamweight at 35 years old, carries a 21-5 record and is one of the most relentless grapplers in the UFC, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. The Georgian fighter out of Serra-Longo Fight Team expressed respect for Tsarukyan but was unambiguous in his forecast: Tsarukyan will be unable to get Topuria to the mat, and when he attempts to trade punches with the champion, he will get knocked out.
Topuria, currently ranked number two at lightweight and first in the pound-for-pound rankings, holds a 17-1 record at just 29 years old. The Spain-based Georgian southpaw — standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach — lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also adds nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes to his offensive arsenal, making him a threat in multiple areas.
On the subject of Yan, Dvalishvili was candid about how difficult that matchup proved to be. He stated that on the night of their fight he felt capable of beating any opponent — except Yan. The bantamweight champion, now 33 and carrying a 20-5 record, is a switch-stance striker who lands an eye-catching 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy. Dvalishvili recalled being cracked twice with damaging body kicks, with the second landing so hard that retreating was not an option — he had to push forward instead. He credited Yan with coming in exceptionally well-prepared and described him as a uniquely tough and technically refined opponent.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's breakdown highlights the grappling question that will define any Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup
- Yan's dominance over the top-ranked bantamweight reinforces his credentials as champion
- The pound-for-pound top two fighters — Topuria and Dvalishvili — are both in focus as their respective divisions heat up
