Merab Dvalishvili says Ilia Topuria has 'impossible' takedown defense

Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has offered a striking endorsement of his training partner Ilia Topuria, revealing that he could not take down the lightweight contender during sparring sessions and describing Topuria's defensive wrestling as simply impossible to overcome.

Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," carries a 21-5 record and holds the number-one ranking in the bantamweight division, with a pound-for-pound ranking of two. The 35-year-old Georgian is widely regarded as one of the most relentless grapplers in the sport, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. That he was unable to put Topuria on the mat in training speaks volumes about the featherweight-turned-lightweight's defensive abilities.

Topuria, known as "El Matador," is ranked second in the lightweight division and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings at just 29 years old. The Spain-based Georgian holds a 17-1 record and has built his reputation on a well-rounded game that includes 1.96 takedowns per 15 minutes of his own, suggesting a strong base-level wrestling foundation that clearly holds up even against elite-level pressure. He lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, making him dangerous in every phase of a fight.

Why it matters

• Dvalishvili is among the highest-volume takedown artists in the UFC, making his inability to bring Topuria down a meaningful data point on Topuria's defensive wrestling.
• Topuria's pound-for-pound top ranking reflects elite status across divisions, and this training revelation adds further credibility to his all-around skill set.
• The two fighters share close ties through the Georgian MMA community, lending added weight to Dvalishvili's assessment as someone with firsthand, repeated experience against Topuria.