Merab Dvalishvili shared his prediction that Ilia Topuria will defeat Arman Tsarukyan by knockout. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down and will be knocked out when he attempts to box with the Georgian champion. The bantamweight contender also reflected on his loss to Petr Yan, acknowledging Yan's unique preparation and painful body kicks. Dvalishvili admitted Yan's second body kick was so painful it forced him to press forward rather than retreat. He stated that on that particular night, he could have beaten everyone except Yan.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will knock out Arman Tsarukyan, offering a candid breakdown of how he expects that fight to unfold while also opening up about his own recent defeat to Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, ranked first in the bantamweight division at 35 years old, carries a 21-5 record and is one of the sport's most relentless grapplers, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. The Georgian fighter out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team stands five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach and has built his career on volume and wrestling pressure, landing 4.33 significant strikes per minute. Despite holding the pound-for-pound number-two ranking, he recently suffered a loss to Petr Yan and addressed that defeat in detail.
On the Topuria prediction, Dvalishvili argued that Tsarukyan will find it impossible to take the lightweight champion down, and that once the fight becomes a boxing match, Topuria will capitalize. Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first in the pound-for-pound rankings, holds a 17-1 record and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. The 29-year-old from Spain also averages 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded base to neutralize wrestling threats.
Reflecting on his loss to Yan, Dvalishvili was candid about how Yan's body kicks altered his game plan. He described the second body kick as so damaging it forced him to press forward rather than move away, effectively disrupting his usual rhythm. He acknowledged that Yan, a switch-stance fighter with a 20-5 record who lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, came in with a preparation that proved uniquely effective. Dvalishvili added that on that night, he felt capable of beating everyone on the roster — with Yan being the sole exception.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's endorsement of Topuria adds narrative weight to the anticipated Topuria vs. Tsarukyan lightweight title matchup
- His self-assessment after the Yan loss offers insight into where the top bantamweight contender sees gaps in his own game
- Yan's reign as bantamweight champion and his striking precision make him a difficult puzzle for any opponent, as Dvalishvili's comments underline
