UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria wants fellow Georgian Merab Dvalishvili to take on his former featherweight rival in the hunt for a second UFC title.
Ilia Topuria became the latest two-division UFC champion when he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 earlier this year. After vacating the featherweight throne, Topuria successfully moved up to lightweight and cemented himself as the pound-for-pound king.
As Topuria prepares for his first lightweight title defense in 2026, fellow Georgian Merab Dvalishvili is quickly making a strong case to join the pound-for-pound conversation. Dvalishvili recently defeated Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision at UFC 320 in another dominant performance.
Although Dvalishvili has not fought at featherweight during his UFC tenure, Topuria believes he can dethrone his former rival, Alexander Volkanovski, and become the UFC’s newest ‘champion’.
Ilia Topuria Reveals He Pushed Merab Dvalishvili to Aim for the Featherweight Throne
During a recent interview with Betsson SportsTopuria weighed in on Dvalishvili’s chances of potentially winning a second UFC title.
“Merab is not normal,” Topuria said.
“I told him he had to change weight classes because he was 100 percent going to win a second title. I have no doubt what happens in that.” [Volkanovski] fight.
“It ends with the victory of Merab.” (h/t Bloody elbow)
Despite Topuria’s efforts, Dvalishvili recently admitted that he wants to remain in the bantamweight division for the foreseeable future. But Topuria could potentially change Dvalishvili’s mind, especially as cutting down to 135 pounds becomes more difficult.
Volkanovski regained the UFC featherweight title by defeating Diego Lopes at UFC 314 in Miami earlier this year. He is expected to face Lerone Murphy or Movsar Evloev for the first title defense of his second title reign.
Dvalishvili and Topuria are doing historic things in the UFC Octagon, and their close friendship means a fight between them is extremely unlikely. But Topuria believes he can push Dvalishvili to take over his former throne.
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