Merab Dvalishvili shared his prediction that Ilia Topuria will defeat Arman Tsarukyan, stating that while he likes Arman and considers him a great fighter, Tsarukyan won't be able to take Topuria down. Dvalishvili believes Tsarukyan will get knocked out when he tries to box with Topuria. In the same interview, Merab reflected on his fight with Petr Yan, saying Yan was the only fighter who could have beaten him that day due to his specific style and preparation. He recalled being hurt badly by Yan's body kicks, noting the pain was so severe in the second instance that he had to press forward into strikes because he couldn't retreat.
Merab Dvalishvili has gone on record predicting that Ilia Topuria will knock out Arman Tsarukyan, offering a candid breakdown of how he sees that lightweight matchup playing out.
Dvalishvili, 35, is the number-one ranked bantamweight and sits second in the pound-for-pound standings with a 21-5 record. The Georgian wrestler is one of the division's most relentless pressers, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes for the Serra-Longo Fight Team. In the same interview, he opened up about his own recent experience inside the cage, reflecting on his bout with Petr Yan and the punishment he absorbed along the way.
On the Topuria-Tsarukyan fight, Dvalishvili expressed genuine respect for Tsarukyan while arguing the matchup favors his fellow Georgian. He believes Tsarukyan will be unable to get the fight to the ground against Topuria, and that standing and trading with "El Matador" will prove costly. In Dvalishvili's view, Tsarukyan gets knocked out the moment he tries to box.
Topuria, 29 and now competing at lightweight, carries a 17-1 record and holds the number-two ranking in the division alongside the top spot on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Spain, the orthodox striker lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and also averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a multi-dimensional threat.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's prediction puts a notable voice in Topuria's corner ahead of a high-stakes lightweight bout
- Tsarukyan's path to victory, in Dvalishvili's analysis, is closed off if he cannot secure takedowns
- Dvalishvili also offered rare personal insight, saying Yan was uniquely equipped to beat him that day, crediting Yan's specific style and body-kick game for the damage he sustained — pain so severe after one shot that retreating was not an option and he had to walk into punches to survive
