Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili believes reigning lightweight titleholder Ilia Topuria would hold a clear edge over top contender Arman Tsarukyan in a potential championship matchup.
Merab Dvalishvili has a firm read on a possible UFC lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan, and he does not see it ending well for the challenger. Speaking ahead of Topuria’s upcoming appearance on the UFC White House card, Dvalishvili said the champion’s style would be the deciding factor in any future meeting with Tsarukyan.
"I have a lot of respect for Arman Tsarukyan — he’s an outstanding athlete and a truly elite fighter. But as long as Ilia Topuria is the champion at lightweight, I only see one outcome. If they fight, Ilia wins, and the main reason is the style matchup.
It’s almost impossible to take Ilia down, so there’s no real point in trying to wrestle him. Arman would have to fight standing up, and there, I believe Ilia knocks him out. That’s my strong opinion," Merab said in an interview with the Mighty YouTube channel.
The potential matchup carries major implications for the division. If Topuria gets past Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the historic White House event, a clash with Tsarukyan could quickly become one of the UFC’s biggest lightweight title fights. Tsarukyan has long been viewed by many fans and analysts in the U.S. as one of the division’s most dangerous all-around contenders, especially because of his pace and wrestling-heavy attack.
For Topuria, a win over a fighter like Tsarukyan would further strengthen the case that his power translates against every style at 155 pounds, not just against strikers. For Tsarukyan, it would be the kind of victory that validates him as more than a contender and potentially ushers in a new era atop one of the UFC’s deepest divisions.
As a reminder, Topuria is scheduled to face Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the historic event at the White House.
