Merab Dvalishvili has offered his prediction for a potential fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. The Georgian bantamweight champion stated that while he likes Tsarukyan and thinks he's a wonderful fighter, Topuria will defeat him. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with him. Dvalishvili also reflected on his own loss to Petr Yan, praising Yan's special style and preparation, and describing the pain from Yan's body kicks as so severe it forced him to press forward rather than retreat. The post also mentions that Conor McGregor paid Artem Lobov compensation for his contribution to Proper Twelve, though the amount wasn't disclosed, and that Carlos Ulberg lost his belt at a party.
Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on a potential matchup between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, predicting the lightweight contender will finish Tsarukyan by knockout if the two ever meet.
The 35-year-old Georgian, ranked first in the bantamweight division with a 21-5 record, expressed genuine respect for Tsarukyan before delivering a firm prediction. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down and that once the fight becomes a boxing match, Topuria will put him away. Known primarily for his own relentless grappling — he averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — Dvalishvili understands the importance of controlling where a fight takes place, making his read on the matchup particularly pointed.
Topuria, 29, currently sits at number two in the lightweight rankings and holds the number one pound-for-pound spot with a 17-1 record. The Spain-based Georgian southpaw standing 170 centimeters tall lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and his willingness to mix in takedowns and submission threats makes him a difficult puzzle for any opponent.
Dvalishvili also opened up about his own defeat to current bantamweight champion Petr Yan, who carries a 20-5 record and connects at a 54 percent striking accuracy rate — among the highest in the division. Dvalishvili described Yan's style as genuinely special and credited the Russian's preparation. He explained that the pain from Yan's body kicks was so severe it actually forced him to move forward rather than create distance, effectively disrupting his own rhythm and game plan.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's breakdown of Topuria's power adds credibility to the narrative that Topuria is a legitimate threat at lightweight
- His reflection on the Yan loss sheds light on how the bantamweight champion neutralized one of the division's most relentless wrestlers
- With Dvalishvili ranked first at 135 pounds and Topuria sitting atop the pound-for-pound list, comments from either fighter carry divisional weight
