Merab Dvalishvili shared his prediction that Ilia Topuria will defeat Arman Tsarukyan, stating that 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 fight with Petr Yan, saying Yan was the only opponent he couldn't have beaten that day because of Yan's unique style and preparation. He described Yan as a tough fighter who hurt him badly with body kicks, particularly in the second instance when the pain was so severe he had to pressure forward rather than retreat. The comments provide Dvalishvili's tactical analysis of both potential and past matchups.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on the lightweight landscape, predicting that Ilia Topuria will stop Arman Tsarukyan and offering candid reflections on his own past experience against Petr Yan.
Dvalishvili, known as "The Machine," holds a 21-5 record and sits ranked first in the bantamweight division at 35 years old. The Georgian fighter trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team and is one of the most relentless grapplers in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. In his assessment of the Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup, he argued that Tsarukyan will be unable to secure takedowns against Topuria and will pay the price whenever he chooses to exchange on the feet.
Topuria, the pound-for-pound number one fighter at 29 years old, competes as a number two ranked lightweight out of Spain. He carries a 17-1 record and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes himself. Dvalishvili's read is that Topuria's knockout power will prove decisive if the fight becomes a boxing match.
On the subject of his own career, Dvalishvili opened up about his bout with Petr Yan. Yan, now 33 and holding a 20-5 record, is the current bantamweight champion fighting out of Russia. He switches stances fluidly and lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 54 percent accuracy — among the highest in the division. Dvalishvili acknowledged that Yan was the one opponent he felt he simply could not have beaten that night, crediting Yan's distinct style and preparation. He specifically recalled Yan's body kicks causing severe pain on two occasions, with the second instance forcing him to press forward rather than create distance.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's tactical breakdown adds context to the lightweight title picture surrounding Topuria
- His candid admission about Yan sheds light on the stylistic challenges that remain at the top of bantamweight
- Yan's switch-stance striking and body work continue to be identified as elite tools even by top-ranked peers
