Merab Dvalishvili has revealed he was offered a fight against Arman Tsarukyan at the recent RAF 8 event in Philadelphia, but he declined. Dvalishvili cited the weight difference as a primary reason, noting that Tsarukyan competes two weight classes above him. He expressed gratitude for his decision after watching Tsarukyan's dominant performance against Urijah Faber at the event. Dvalishvili criticized Tsarukyan's conduct during the fight, specifically taking issue with Tsarukyan throwing Faber outside the cage. Despite acknowledging Tsarukyan as a skilled fighter and respecting his contributions to the sport, Dvalishvili felt the aggressive cage behavior was unnecessary.
Merab Dvalishvili has revealed that he turned down an offer to face Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 8 in Philadelphia, citing the weight disparity between the two fighters as his main reason for declining.
Dvalishvili, known as "The Machine," holds a 21-5 record and is ranked first in the UFC bantamweight division as well as second in the pound-for-pound standings. The 35-year-old Georgian, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the most relentless wrestlers in the sport, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking output of 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Tsarukyan competes at lightweight, two divisions above Dvalishvili's bantamweight home, and the Georgian said the size gap made the matchup a straightforward pass. After watching Tsarukyan perform at RAF 8, Dvalishvili expressed relief at his decision. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains at American Top Team and carries a 23-3 record as the top-ranked lightweight contender, delivered a dominant showing against veteran Urijah Faber. Tsarukyan lands an impressive 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. While Dvalishvili acknowledged Tsarukyan's talent and his value to the sport, he was openly critical of one moment during the bout — Tsarukyan throwing Faber outside the cage — calling the action unnecessary.
Faber, the 47-year-old American legend affiliated with Team Alpha Male, carries a 35-11 record and has long been one of the most recognizable names in combat sports.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili's refusal underscores how seriously top fighters weigh physical mismatches even in non-UFC settings
- Tsarukyan's performance at RAF 8 reinforces his status as the top lightweight contender, with his conduct drawing scrutiny from peers
- The public criticism from a pound-for-pound top-two fighter adds a layer of narrative tension between two high-profile names in adjacent divisions
