TLDR
- Merab Dvalishvili predicts Ilia Topuria would knock out Arman Tsarukyan in a potential matchup
- The bantamweight champion says Tsarukyan wouldn’t pose a serious threat to the featherweight titleholder
- Dvalishvili believes Topuria’s striking power would be the deciding factor in the fight
- The prediction comes after Tsarukyan’s recent lightweight title fight loss to Islam Makhachev
- Topuria is currently the UFC featherweight champion while Tsarukyan competes at lightweight
Sources: Bloody Elbow | MMANews.com | MSN
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has shared his prediction for a potential fight between featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. The Georgian fighter believes his training partner Topuria would win by knockout.
Dvalishvili broke down the hypothetical matchup and explained why he thinks Tsarukyan would struggle against the featherweight champion. The bantamweight titleholder stated that Tsarukyan wouldn’t threaten Topuria very much in the fight.
The prediction comes after Tsarukyan recently challenged for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. Tsarukyan lost that fight in the first round by submission.
Topuria currently holds the featherweight championship after defeating Alexander Volkanovski and successfully defending his title against Max Holloway. The Georgian-Spanish fighter has built a reputation for his knockout power and striking ability.
For Merab Dvalishvili, the potential superfight is simple: Arman Tsarukyan can’t take Ilia Topuria down — and standing with him ends in a knockout.
Can Arman beat Ilia?#UFC #MMA #Powcast
Admin Tozam pic.twitter.com/QvCkaYB302— Powcast Sports (@POWCASTSPORTS) April 21, 2026
Dvalishvili Explains His Prediction
Dvalishvili trains alongside Topuria and has seen the featherweight champion’s skills up close. The bantamweight champ pointed to Topuria’s striking power as a key advantage in the potential matchup.
According to Dvalishvili’s breakdown, Topuria’s technical striking and power would create problems for Tsarukyan. He believes the featherweight champion would find openings to land clean shots.
The bantamweight titleholder emphasized that while Tsarukyan is a talented fighter, he wouldn’t match up well against Topuria’s style. Dvalishvili sees the fight ending with Topuria’s hand raised after a knockout victory.
Tsarukyan competes in the lightweight division, which sits one weight class above featherweight. The Armenian fighter is ranked among the top lightweights in the UFC despite his recent title fight loss.
Context Behind the Matchup Talk
The potential fight between Topuria and Tsarukyan has been discussed among MMA fans and fighters. Both men are considered elite competitors in their respective divisions.
Topuria has expressed interest in challenging himself against top fighters from other weight classes. The featherweight champion has made it clear he wants to test himself against the best the UFC has to offer.
Tsarukyan remains a top contender at lightweight despite losing to Makhachev. The 27-year-old fighter has victories over several ranked opponents in the division.
Dvalishvili’s relationship with Topuria gives him unique insight into the featherweight champion’s abilities. The two fighters share Georgian heritage and have trained together at various points.
The bantamweight champion recently defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. Dvalishvili won that fight by unanimous decision to retain his belt.
Neither Topuria nor Tsarukyan has officially been scheduled for their next fight. Topuria is expected to defend his featherweight title later this year against a yet-to-be-determined challenger.
