Merab Dvalishvili shared his thoughts on a potential fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Dvalishvili said he likes Tsarukyan and considers him a great fighter, but believes Topuria will defeat him. He predicts that Tsarukyan will not be able to take Topuria down and will be knocked out when he tries to box with him. Dvalishvili also reflected on his own fight with Petr Yan, saying Yan was the only fighter who could have beaten him that day. He described Yan as a tough fighter with a special style who hurt him badly with body kicks, forcing Dvalishvili to push forward into strikes because he couldn't run away from the pain.
Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has weighed in on the lightweight division's most anticipated potential matchup, predicting that Ilia Topuria will stop Arman Tsarukyan if the two ever share the octagon.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and sits ranked first in the bantamweight division, making him one of the most credible voices in the sport. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is known for an relentless pressure style that produces an elite 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. Despite his wrestling-heavy approach, he acknowledged Tsarukyan as a great fighter while firmly backing his teammate Topuria to come out on top.
Topuria, ranked second at lightweight and the current pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, carries a 17-1 record and has shown consistent finishing ability throughout his career. The 29-year-old Spaniard lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and Dvalishvili believes those weapons will be decisive. He predicted that Tsarukyan will be unable to secure takedowns against Topuria and will be knocked out when he attempts to engage in a boxing exchange.
Dvalishvili also reflected candidly on his own recent experience against Petr Yan. He described the bantamweight champion as uniquely difficult, crediting Yan's special style and noting that body kicks from the 33-year-old Russian hurt him badly enough to force him to push forward into oncoming strikes rather than create distance. Yan, who fights out of a switch stance and lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 54 percent accuracy, was characterized by Dvalishvili as the one fighter capable of beating him on that particular night.
Why it matters
- Topuria's pound-for-pound status makes his next lightweight matchup one of the most watched storylines in the sport
- Dvalishvili's close relationship with Topuria gives his prediction added weight as an insider perspective
- The comments on Yan offer rare insight into how Dvalishvili himself views his recent bantamweight title loss
