Merab Dvalishvili revealed he was offered a fight against Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 08 in Philadelphia but declined. The bantamweight champion stated the matchup made no sense because Tsarukyan competes two weight classes above him. Dvalishvili expressed relief at his decision after witnessing Tsarukyan's actions against Urijah Faber, specifically criticizing Arman for throwing Faber out of the cage area. He acknowledged Tsarukyan's skills but condemned the unnecessary aggression shown toward the MMA legend. The incident highlighted Dvalishvili's concerns about the weight difference and Tsarukyan's behavior.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has revealed he was offered a fight against lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 08 in Philadelphia, a matchup he turned down and says he has no regrets about declining.
Dvalishvili, known as "The Machine," holds a 21-5 record and sits atop the bantamweight division, currently ranked second pound-for-pound. The 35-year-old Georgian fighter trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team and has built his reputation on relentless pressure and an elite grappling game, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — one of the highest rates in the sport.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the conversation as the number-one ranked lightweight with a 23-3 record. The Russia-born American Top Team product is a well-rounded threat who lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate and averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. He competes two full weight classes above Dvalishvili's bantamweight home.
Dvalishvili stated the size disparity alone made the proposed fight illogical. His conviction on that point was reinforced after witnessing Tsarukyan's conduct toward Urijah Faber at the event, specifically criticizing Tsarukyan for physically throwing the veteran fighter out of the cage area. Dvalishvili acknowledged Tsarukyan's abilities but condemned what he described as unnecessary aggression directed at the 47-year-old MMA legend. Faber, a 35-11 fighter and longtime face of Team Alpha Male, remains one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is the reigning bantamweight champion and ranked second pound-for-pound, making a cross-divisional fight with a lightweight a legitimate mismatch on paper.
- Tsarukyan's behavior toward Faber has drawn public criticism, adding a character dimension to the story beyond pure sport.
- The exchange puts Tsarukyan's conduct in Philadelphia under scrutiny at a moment when he is positioned near the top of the lightweight division.
