The Ultimate Fighting Championship proudly boasts two remarkable champions from Georgia.
Although both Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvili achieved their inaugural UFC championship titles last year, their current career aspirations diverge significantly.
Topuria, for instance, is setting his sights on major matchups, having recently secured a second divisional belt at lightweight in his sole bout of 2025.
Conversely, his Georgian compatriot appears poised to complete one of the most outstanding years in UFC history.
While Dvalishvili prepares for a record-breaking fourth bantamweight title defense at UFC 323, Topuria has attempted to steer him toward an alternative ambitious objective.
Topuria`s Conviction: Merab Dvalishvili Could Dominate Alexander Volkanovski at Featherweight
Immediately following his decisive knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski to claim the featherweight championship, Ilia Topuria articulated a clear vision for his future.
Known as `El Matador`, Topuria expressed little interest in an extended stay at featherweight, nor in systematically defending his title to forge a lengthy legacy in the 145-pound division.
While Topuria contemplates a future move to welterweight, Merab Dvalishvili remains dedicated to achieving unprecedented records in the bantamweight division, setting benchmarks that will be challenging to surpass.
Dvalishvili has previously faced inquiries regarding a potential move to a higher weight class to seek new challenges.
A potential “super fight” between Dvalishvili and Volkanovski promises to be captivating, yet `The Machine` has not prioritized this matchup.
In a recent conversation with Betsson Sport, Topuria revealed his efforts to persuade the current bantamweight champion to pursue this particular path.
Furthermore, Topuria voiced absolute certainty that this hypothetical encounter would culminate in Dvalishvili claiming an additional UFC championship belt.
“I have already conveyed to Merab the necessity of changing weight classes, as he possesses a 100% chance of securing a second belt,” Topuria declared. “Regarding a fight against Volkanovski, I have no doubt about the outcome. I am confident it will conclude with Merab`s victory.”
Statistical Comparison: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Alexander Volkanovski
When analyzing the physical attributes for a hypothetical encounter between Merab Dvalishvili and Alexander Volkanovski, a notable aspect is their comparable physical dimensions.
| Tale of the Tape | Merab Dvalishvili | Alexander Volkanovski |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 34 | 37 |
| Height | 5’6” | 5’6” |
| Reach | 68” | 71” |
| Record | 21-4 | 27-4 |
A deeper examination of their respective UFC career statistics, however, distinctly highlights the contrasting fighting styles of the two athletes.
Dvalishvili`s persistent takedown attempts are clearly reflected in his statistical profile, a characteristic that makes Volkanovski a particularly intriguing potential adversary.
`The Great` has notably never been overpowered by a grappler, even during his lightweight challenge against Islam Makhachev.
| UFC Stats | Merab Dvalishvili | Alexander Volkanovski |
|---|---|---|
| Significant Strikes Landed per Minute | 4.33 | 6.18 |
| Significant Strikes Absorbed per Minute | 2.55 | 3.36 |
| Average Takedowns Landed per 15 Minutes | 6.40 | 1.67 |
| Takedown Defense – % of opponent`s attempts that didn’t land | 82% | 70% |
While Dvalishvili does not appear to be rushing this potential bout, it would undeniably present a compelling matchup if it were to materialize within the coming year.
