The present number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the earth, light-weight champion Ilia Topuria, lately spoke at a press convention with international media.
About fellow Georgian champion Merab Dvalishvili, Topuria informed the press, “He simply had one other battle scheduled. That man isn’t regular. He’s an superior man, salt of the earth. I haven’t met many good folks like him. I’ve informed Merab earlier than that he wants to vary weight lessons as a result of he 100% has an opportunity at a second belt.”
Relating to a possible battle with Alexander Volkanovski, the champ stated, “I’ve no doubts about what occurs in that battle. I do know it ends with Merab profitable.”
That is excessive reward for his fellow countryman. Though one has adopted Spain as his residence and the opposite the United States, the mutual respect between the 2 males is evident. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely that he would transfer as much as featherweight, for a similar purpose he as soon as held off on a title shot. To keep away from interfering with the profession of his greatest good friend and former bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling.
Merab’s Friendship Over legacy
Merab started coaching out of Serra-Longo Fight Team in Lengthy Island, New York, whereas working in building and unable to talk English. Throughout his early transition, not solely into the game but additionally into life in America, Merab befriended Aljamain Sterling. Since then, the 2 have grow to be the closest of buddies, referring to one another as “brothers.”
As each males’s careers reached a excessive stage and whereas in the identical division, they refused to battle each other. Throughout Sterling’s reign as bantamweight champion, Merab was the rightful primary contender, but he nonetheless refused the title shot. UFC President Dana White voiced his displeasure to MMA media.
This case mirrored that of champions Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier, who additionally refused to battle one another. In consequence, Cormier moved all the way down to the sunshine heavyweight division. I imagine that regardless of Merab’s potential for fulfillment, he would keep away from shifting to a division the place he might be put able to battle his brother.
