Merab Dvalishvili Refuses To Wrestle Arman Tsarukyan: “Matchup Doesn’t Make Sense”

Merab Dvalishvili has voiced his frustration with Arman Tsarukyan, following a controversial moment in Tsarukyan’s recent match. With no immediate fight booked in the UFC, Tsarukyan has stayed active through appearances in Real American Freestyle (RAF), where he recently faced Urijah Faber. The match ended in unusual fashion after both competitors fell off the mats, […]

The post Merab Dvalishvili Refuses To Wrestle Arman Tsarukyan: “Matchup Doesn’t Make Sense” appeared first on Bjj Eastern Europe.

Merab Dvalishvili, a top UFC bantamweight renowned for his relentless grappling and wrestling, recently declined a challenge from lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan for a wrestling match. The proposition came after Dvalishvili's dominant performance against Henry Cejudo, where his superior wrestling and cardio were instrumental in securing the win. Tsarukyan, himself a strong grappler within the MMA landscape, extended the challenge, but Dvalishvili was quick to dismiss it.

Dvalishvili's primary reasons for refusing the match centered on the significant weight disparity, noting he competes at 135 lbs while Tsarukyan is a 155 lb fighter. He also stated that the matchup "doesn't make sense" because Tsarukyan, despite being a formidable MMA competitor, is not a dedicated wrestler by profession. Dvalishvili underscored his commitment to his UFC career and his pursuit of the bantamweight title, indicating that a side grappling match was not his focus.

Drawing on his own extensive wrestling background, Dvalishvili articulated that if he were to participate in a grappling-only contest, he would prefer to face "real wrestlers," potentially implying Olympic-level competitors. This position highlights his deep respect for pure wrestling and his selective approach to non-MMA grappling challenges, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most dominant grapplers in the UFC's bantamweight division.