Merab Dvalishvili revealed he was offered a fight against Arman Tsarukyan at the recent RAF 08 event in Philadelphia but declined. Dvalishvili explained the matchup did not make sense because Tsarukyan competes two weight classes above him. The bantamweight champion stated he was glad he refused after witnessing Tsarukyan's behavior towards Urijah Faber at the event. Merab expressed disappointment with how Arman threw Faber outside the cage area, calling it unnecessary despite respecting Tsarukyan's abilities as a fighter.
Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has revealed he turned down an offer to fight Arman Tsarukyan at RAF 08 in Philadelphia, explaining the matchup made little sense given the two men compete in different weight classes.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds the bantamweight title and currently sits at number one in the division and number two in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Georgian fighter, who trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team, carries a record of 21-5-0 and is one of the sport's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes. He lands 4.33 significant strikes per minute as well, making him a high-output threat in every phase.
Tsarukyan, by contrast, competes at lightweight — two divisions above bantamweight — where he is ranked number one with a record of 23-3-0. The 29-year-old Russia-born American Top Team product is known for his clean striking, posting a 50 percent striking accuracy and averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute, along with a creditable 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Beyond the weight-class mismatch, Dvalishvili said he was glad he declined after watching Tsarukyan's conduct toward MMA legend Urijah Faber at the event. Dvalishvili expressed disappointment after Tsarukyan threw Faber outside the cage area, describing the action as unnecessary. While making clear he respects Tsarukyan's abilities as a fighter, Dvalishvili indicated the incident confirmed he made the right call in walking away from the offer. Faber, 47, is a pioneering figure in the sport who carries a career record of 35-11-0 and remains affiliated with Team Alpha Male.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili is the reigning bantamweight champion and the second-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, making any opponent selection a high-profile decision.
- A cross-weight-class matchup between him and the top-ranked lightweight contender Tsarukyan would have carried significant physical and competitive risks for Dvalishvili.
- The incident involving Faber adds a public friction between two of the UFC's elite competitors that could shape future narratives in both divisions.
