Merab Dvalishvili has offered his analysis of a potential matchup between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, predicting Topuria would win decisively. Dvalishvili stated that while he likes Tsarukyan as a fighter, he believes Arman will be unable to take Topuria down and will ultimately fall to a knockout when attempting to box with him. In the same interview, Dvalishvili reflected on his own fight with Petr Yan, admitting Yan was the only opponent who could have beaten him that night. He praised Yan's unique style and preparation, noting that body kicks from Yan caused severe pain during their bout. Dvalishvili explained that in one instance he had to rush forward into strikes because the pain from Yan's body kick was so intense he couldn't escape.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria would stop Arman Tsarukyan if the two lightweights were to meet, forecasting a knockout finish in Topuria's favor.
Dvalishvili, ranked number one in the bantamweight division at 35 years old, carries a 21-5 record and is widely regarded as one of the sport's elite grapplers. Fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, the Georgian generates an extraordinary 6.4 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, a figure that underscores why his opinion on wrestling-based game plans carries weight. He acknowledged a genuine respect for Tsarukyan but argued that Arman would be unable to get Topuria to the canvas, and that once the fight turned into a boxing match, Topuria's power would prove decisive.
Topuria, the current number-two ranked lightweight and the pound-for-pound number-one fighter in the world, holds a 17-1 record and fights out of Spain for Climent Club. The 29-year-old lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at a 48 percent accuracy rate, with a height of five-foot-seven and a 69-inch reach. His finishing ability has defined his career trajectory through two weight classes.
In the same interview, Dvalishvili also reflected on his recent bout with bantamweight champion Petr Yan. The Russian, 33, carries a 20-5 record and lands an imposing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, working out of a switch stance for the Archangel Michael Club. Dvalishvili admitted Yan was the only fighter who could have beaten him on that night, citing the champion's distinctive style and preparation. He described Yan's body kicks as causing severe pain, recounting one moment where the agony forced him to surge forward directly into oncoming strikes simply to escape the pressure.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's grappling expertise lends credibility to his assessment that Tsarukyan cannot take Topuria down
- A potential Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup has major implications for the lightweight division title picture
- Dvalishvili's candid remarks about Yan add rare public context to that bantamweight title fight
