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Merab Dvalishvili doesn't see Arman Tsarukyan having any success against UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was snubbed out of the title picture when the promotion opted to pit Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett against each other for the interim belt at UFC 324, with the winner expected to face Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC).
Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) defeated Pimblett, and will now fight Topuria in a title-unification bout, which headlines UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House. Many view Tsarukyan as Topuria's biggest threat at 155 pounds, but Dvalishvili believes Topuria would add another knockout to his resume.
"I respect Arman Tsarukyan, too. He is a great athlete, a great fighter," Dvalishvili told Demetrious Johnson. "But since Ilia is the champion in this weight class, even if Arman fights Ilia, Ilia stylistically beats Arman. You can't take Ilia down. It doesn't even make sense to wrestle with him. Then Arman has to box with Ilia, too, and then Ilia will knock out Arman Tsarukyan."
Topuria is on an impressive knockout streak after taking out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. He is a big favorite to retain his belt against Gaethje.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dvalishvili: Topuria bad stylistic matchup for Tsarukyan
Continue reading...
Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was snubbed out of the title picture when the promotion opted to pit Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett against each other for the interim belt at UFC 324, with the winner expected to face Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC).
Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) defeated Pimblett, and will now fight Topuria in a title-unification bout, which headlines UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House. Many view Tsarukyan as Topuria's biggest threat at 155 pounds, but Dvalishvili believes Topuria would add another knockout to his resume.
"I respect Arman Tsarukyan, too. He is a great athlete, a great fighter," Dvalishvili told Demetrious Johnson. "But since Ilia is the champion in this weight class, even if Arman fights Ilia, Ilia stylistically beats Arman. You can't take Ilia down. It doesn't even make sense to wrestle with him. Then Arman has to box with Ilia, too, and then Ilia will knock out Arman Tsarukyan."
Topuria is on an impressive knockout streak after taking out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. He is a big favorite to retain his belt against Gaethje.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dvalishvili: Topuria bad stylistic matchup for Tsarukyan
Continue reading...
