Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is not happy with how Arman Tsarukyan reacted to Ilia Topuria’s title loss. Topuria was dethroned by Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the White House.
While everyone had counted “The Highlight” out, come fight night, he delivered one of his best performances to date, and after four rounds, Topuria’s face was shattered to a point he could barely see due to the damage. Therefore, the 29-year-old’s corner was forced to throw in the towel and stop the bout.
Topuria suffered 2 broken orbitals and a busted-up nose after spending 20 minutes inside the octagon with Gaethje.
After Topuria’s title loss, “Ahalkalakets” appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he criticised the former’s game plan and preparations for the Gaethje title unification bout, adding that “El Matador” doesn’t train with elite fighters and instead chooses to train mainly with his brother Aleksandre and teammate Guram Kutateladze.
He also mocked Topuria by calling him “Lord Farquaad”.
Tsarukyan told Helwani that he believes Islam Makhachev can submit Topuria in Round 1 if they ever lock horns, and that he would like to inflict the same kind of damage on the Georgian-Spaniard, or even worse, if they ever lock horns.
Lastly, “Ahalkalakets” also suggested that the UFC will try to protect “El Matador,” and the latter, on his return bout, must fight the 40-year-old Michael Chandler, who’s on a 4-fight losing skid.
Merab Dvalishvili does not like the way Arman Tsarukyan talks about Ilia Topuria
“The Machine” has defended his “warrior brother” Ilia Topuria after the White House slugfest. Merab Dvalishvili understands what it feels like to lose a title, especially after a hard-fought battle.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the 35-year-old said that Arman Tsarukyan should never have mocked Ilia Topuria following his title loss to Justin Gaethje. Although the Georgian respects the Armenian, he has now made it clear that he clearly didn’t like the way “Ahalkalakets” has reacted to Topuria’s first MMA loss. Merab Dvalishvili said:
“Arman Tsarukyan is staying busy, and he’s doing his thing. Sport-wise, he’s really impressive. But I have to say this: when I see Arman Tsarukyan still talking trash about my brother, Ilia Topuria, especially after Ilia had such a great fight and showed an incredible performance, I think he deserves nothing but respect from everyone. I understand Arman wanted to fight him before and everything like that, but nobody should disrespect my brother, Ilia. As an athlete, I respect Arman Tsarukyan, but at the same time, I don’t like the way he talks, especially about someone who just went through a war in the octagon.”
Check out Merab Dvalishvili’s comments below:
