It`s highly probable that Merab Dvalishvili won`t spar with Ilia Topuria again following UFC 317. The reason? Topuria dropped him twice during training sessions.
UFC champions Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria have become widely popular figures in MMA after securing significant victories this month. Dvalishvili triumphed over Sean O`Malley in their bantamweight title rematch at UFC 316, while Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 on Saturday.
Both Dvalishvili and Topuria are considered among the top athletes originating from Georgia, a nation bordering Russia and Turkey. Although neither fighter currently resides in Georgia, both UFC stars frequently use their prominence to honor their homeland and often share their victories with Georgian fans.
Merab Dvalishvili Recounts Amusing Reason for Ending Sparring Sessions with Ilia Topuria
Dvalishvili and Topuria maintain a distinctive, long-standing friendship, dating back to when they were both climbing the ranks towards title contention. The UFC bantamweight champion stated that despite having trained together occasionally in the past, another sparring session between them is improbable.
During a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Dvalishvili revealed the reason he stopped sparring with his compatriot amidst their respective successes in the UFC.
“He’s so organized. Ilia, he sees things before, he works for it, and he has plans,” Dvalishvili commented on Topuria.
“I can’t spar with him anymore [LAUGHS], because he hits [too] hard. He dropped me twice with body shots.
“Thank God that my head is fine! Every time I finished sparring with him, I was happy, ‘Thank God it’s over!`”
With Topuria now competing solely in the lightweight division, it`s reasonable to assume that a sparring session between the new lightweight champion and Dvalishvili wouldn`t be ideal. However, Dvalishvili has demonstrated a remarkable ability to withstand powerful strikes throughout his career, notably in his victories against O’Malley and former title contender Marlon Moraes.
Currently, Georgia boasts two UFC world champions. In contrast, the United States presently holds only one UFC title, represented by women`s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.
Potential Delay for Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett Bout After UFC 319 Fighter Reveals Alleged Matchup
Following his knockout victory over Oliveira at UFC 317, Topuria shifted his focus towards a potential clash with long-standing rival Paddy Pimblett. The two fighters shared a tense encounter in the octagon immediately after Topuria`s win.
However, a potential fight between Topuria and Pimblett might be postponed, as UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis reportedly revealed an alleged co-main event for UFC 319. Du Plessis claimed that Pimblett is set to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 319 in Chicago.
As of now, the UFC has not officially announced the next opponents for either Pimblett or Gaethje. During the UFC 317 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White gave a non-committal response when questioned about a potential Topuria vs. Pimblett fight.
Percy Harlow