Merab Dvalishvili reveals he's lost sleep over Ilia Topuria's loss to Justin Gaethje

Merab Dvalishvili has opened up about the emotional toll of watching close friend and training partner Ilia Topuria lose to Justin Gaethje at UFC White House, saying the defeat has cost him nights of sleep.

Dvalishvili, 35, is the current number-one ranked bantamweight and sits second in the pound-for-pound standings with a 21-5 record. Known as "The Machine," the Georgian fighter is one of the sport's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — a figure that stands among the highest in the UFC. His candid admission reflects the depth of the bond he shares with his fellow Georgian, Topuria.

Topuria, fighting out of Spain under the "El Matador" banner, entered the contest as the number-two ranked lightweight and the pound-for-pound number-one fighter on many lists. The 29-year-old carried a 17-1 record into the bout and had established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers in the sport, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy while also mixing in nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes. The loss to Gaethje represents the first blemish on an otherwise dominant career.

Gaethje, now the lightweight champion at 37 years old, improved to 28-5 with the victory. "The Highlight" is one of the division's most prolific strikers, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect his aggressive, high-output style throughout a decorated career at Genesis Training Center.

Why it matters

• Topuria's loss drops him from the top of the pound-for-pound rankings and reshapes the lightweight title picture
• Gaethje's championship reign at 37 raises questions about who emerges as the next legitimate contender
• The public comments from Dvalishvili underline the personal stakes involved when training partners compete at the sport's highest level