Merab Dvalishvili predicted that Ilia Topuria will knock out Arman Tsarukyan, stating that Tsarukyan will be unable to take Topuria down and will get knocked out when he tries to box with him. Dvalishvili also reflected on his fight with Petr Yan, saying he could have beaten anyone that day except Yan because of Yan's special preparation and style. He specifically mentioned Yan's devastating body kicks, recalling two instances where the pain was so severe he had to pressure forward rather than retreat. Dvalishvili described Yan as a tough fighter who truly prepared specifically for him.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will finish Arman Tsarukyan by knockout, while also opening up about the lingering memory of Petr Yan's body kicks from their own meeting inside the cage.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and sits ranked first in the bantamweight division, making him the top contender in a weight class he has systematically dismantled with an elite wrestling game. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — one of the highest rates in the sport — and lands 4.33 significant strikes per minute. Reflecting on his bout with Petr Yan, Dvalishvili said he felt capable of beating nearly anyone that day, but that Yan's specific preparation and unique style made the difference. He recalled two moments in the fight where Yan's body kicks caused such severe pain that retreating was not an option and he was forced to press forward instead.
Yan, now 33 and holding a 20-5 record as bantamweight champion, is a switch-stance striker who lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy — numbers that help explain the punishment Dvalishvili described absorbing.
On the lightweight matchup between Topuria and Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili was direct: Tsarukyan will not be able to take Topuria down, and if he tries to exchange on the feet, he will get knocked out. Topuria, the 29-year-old Spaniard ranked second at lightweight and first pound-for-pound at 17-1, lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also averages 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him tools on both ends of the fight.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's comments add significant outside perspective to a high-stakes lightweight title picture involving the pound-for-pound number one fighter.
- His candid account of the Yan fight highlights Yan's championship-level preparation and the specific dangers his body attack poses.
- At bantamweight, Dvalishvili remains the division's top contender, keeping the spotlight on a potential rematch or title shot.
