Merab Dvalishvili shared his prediction for a potential Ilia Topuria vs Arman Tsarukyan bout. While stating that he likes Tsarukyan as a fighter, Dvalishvili believes Topuria will win by knockout. He argued that Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down and will fall trying to box with the Georgian champion. Dvalishvili also reflected on his own loss to Petr Yan, calling Yan a unique and tough fighter with a special style. He described absorbing painful body kicks from Yan that forced him to change tactics during their fight. Dvalishvili acknowledged that on that particular day, he could have beaten everyone except Yan.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record with a bold prediction for a potential lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, backing his fellow Georgian to finish Tsarukyan by knockout.
Dvalishvili, the number-one ranked bantamweight at 35 years old, carries a 21-5 record and is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the UFC, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes for the Serra-Longo Fight Team. Despite his respect for Tsarukyan as a competitor, Dvalishvili argued that the Armenian contender will be unable to take Topuria down and will pay the price for trying to engage in a boxing match with the champion.
Topuria, 29, holds a 17-1 record and currently sits at number one in the pound-for-pound rankings while ranked second in the lightweight division. Fighting out of Spain under the Climent Club banner, the Georgian finisher lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, with a reach of 69 inches. Dvalishvili's assessment was straightforward: Tsarukyan on the feet against Topuria ends badly for the challenger.
Dvalishvili also took time to reflect on his own defeat to Petr Yan, offering candid insight into how that fight unfolded. He described Yan as a uniquely difficult opponent with a style unlike anyone else he has faced, specifically pointing to punishing body kicks that forced him to adjust his approach mid-fight. He acknowledged that on that particular night, he felt capable of beating anyone in the division — with the sole exception of Yan.
Yan, 33, holds a 20-5 record and currently holds the bantamweight title, landing an impressive 5.12 significant strikes per minute with a 54 percent accuracy rate — the kind of output that Dvalishvili's comments suggest left a lasting impression.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's prediction adds narrative pressure to a potential Topuria vs. Tsarukyan lightweight title fight
- His analysis centers on the wrestling-versus-striking dynamic that would define that matchup
- His candid reflection on the Yan loss offers rare public acknowledgment of a fighter who genuinely neutralized his gameplan
