Pound-for-pound fighter and light-weight champion Ilya Topria, who’s at the moment ranked primary on the earth, just lately spoke at a press convention with worldwide media.
Concerning fellow Georgian champion Merab Dvalishvili, Topria informed reporters: “He simply had one other struggle scheduled. That man isn’t regular. He is the salt of the earth, an excellent man. I have never met many good individuals like him. I informed Merab earlier than that he wants to alter weight courses as a result of he has a 100% likelihood to get a second belt.”
Concerning a potential struggle with Alexander Volkanovskiy, the champion mentioned: “I’ve no doubts about what is going to occur in that struggle. I do know it would finish with Merab’s victory.”
That is excessive reward for my fellow countrymen. Though one calls Spain house and the opposite america, it’s clear that the 2 males have a mutual respect. Nonetheless, he’s unlikely to maneuver as much as featherweight for a similar causes he gave up on a title shot previously. He did not wish to intervene with the profession of his shut good friend and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.
Friendship over Merab’s legacy
Merab started coaching with the Serra Longo Battle Staff on Lengthy Island, New York, however labored on a development website and couldn’t converse English. Early in his transition not solely to sports activities however to life in America, Merab turned pals with Aljamain Sterling. Since then, the 2 have grow to be shut pals, calling one another “brothers.”
Whereas each fighters reached excessive ranges of their careers and had been in the identical division, they refused to struggle one another. Throughout Sterling’s reign as bantamweight champion, Merab was a legit primary contender, however he nonetheless refused to win the title. UFC President Dana White expressed his displeasure to the MMA media.
The state of affairs mirrored that of champions Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier, who additionally declined to struggle. In consequence, Cormier was demoted to mild heavyweight. Regardless of the potential for achievement, I consider Merab will keep away from shifting to a division the place he might be put able to compete together with his older brother.
