It`s clear that Merab Dvalishvili will not be sparring with Ilia Topuria again following the events around UFC 317.
UFC champions Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria have become highly popular figures in MMA after securing major victories this month. Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley in their bantamweight title rematch at UFC 316, while Topuria claimed the then-vacant lightweight championship by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on Saturday.
Both Dvalishvili and Topuria are among the most prominent athletes to emerge from Georgia, a nation bordering Russia and Turkey. Although neither fighter currently resides in Georgia, they both use their success in the UFC to promote their homeland and frequently celebrate their wins alongside Georgian fans.
Merab Dvalishvili explains the humorous reason he stopped sparring with Ilia Topuria
Dvalishvili and Topuria share a unique, long-standing friendship dating back to their rise in the sport. While they have trained together occasionally throughout their careers, the UFC bantamweight champion indicates another sparring session is highly unlikely.
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Dvalishvili elaborated on why he no longer spars with his fellow Georgian star amidst their current UFC success.
“He’s so organized. Ilia, he sees things before, he works for it, and he has plans,” Dvalishvili commented about Topuria.
He then revealed the impact of Topuria`s power: “I can’t spar with him anymore [LAUGHS], because he hits hard. He dropped me two times from body shots.”
Reflecting on the sessions, Dvalishvili added, “Thank God that my head is fine! Every time that I finished sparring with him, I was happy, ‘Thank God it’s over!`”
Now that Topuria competes full-time at lightweight, a sparring session between the new lightweight champion and Dvalishvili would likely be even more demanding. Nevertheless, Dvalishvili has demonstrated remarkable durability throughout his career, notably absorbing significant strikes in his wins against fighters like O’Malley and former title challenger Marlon Moraes.
As of this writing, Georgia proudly claims two UFC world titleholders. In contrast, the United States currently has just one active UFC champion, the women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.
Potential delay for Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett showdown after fighter leaks booking
Following his knockout victory over Oliveira at UFC 317, Topuria quickly shifted his focus to a potential matchup with his longtime rival, Paddy Pimblett. The two even had a tense faceoff in the octagon shortly after Topuria`s win.
However, a confrontation between Topuria and Pimblett might be postponed. UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis recently mentioned an alleged co-main event for UFC 319, suggesting that Pimblett is set to face Justin Gaethje in Chicago.
Currently, the UFC has not officially announced the next opponents for either Pimblett or Gaethje. When asked about Topuria potentially facing Pimblett at the UFC 317 post-fight press conference, UFC CEO Dana White remained non-committal.
Jack Thornley