Jun 7, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) prepares to fight Sean O’Malley (not pictured) in a bantamweight title fight during UFC 316 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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“Can’t Spar With Him Anymore” – Merab Dvalishvili Gives His Take On Training With Ilia Topuria

Merab Dvalishvili is not a fan of sparring with the new lightweight champion and fellow Georgian Ilia Topuria!

Sparring sessions in MMA gyms are usually intense affairs where fighters test their skills without trying to end careers. Most training partners find that sweet spot between going hard enough to improve and holding back enough to avoid sending anyone to the hospital. But every once in a while, fighters encounter someone whose power is so ridiculous that even light sparring feels like getting hit by a freight train. And that is the case when Merab Dvalishvili sparred with Ilia Topuria.

The Georgian bantamweight champion recently opened up about his sparring experiences with fellow countryman Ilia Topuria. Both fighters have reached the pinnacle of their respective divisions. Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title and Topuria recently capturing UFC lightweight gold. Their shared Georgian heritage has created a close bond between them. But that friendship apparently doesn’t extend to pulling punches in the gym.

Merab Dvalishvili Reveals Getting Dropped Twice!

Dvalishvili’s revelation on The Ariel Helwani Show about his training sessions with Topuria paints a picture of just how devastating the lightweight champion’s power is. It’s hard for a world champion like Dvalishvili to openly admit that another fighter hits too hard to spar with safely.

“I can’t spar with him anymore, he hits too hard. … He dropped me two times from body shots. Thank God, my head is fine. Every time I finish sparring with him, I was happy and thank God, it’s over. He hits very good.”

Merab says Ilia Topuria dropped him twice during sparring:

“I can’t spar with him anymore, he hits too hard… he dropped me two times with a body shot…

Every time I finished sparring with him I said ‘Thank God.’” 😭😭

🎥 @arielhelwani #UFC pic.twitter.com/gwThFmsxfK
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 30, 2025

The fact that these knockdowns came from body shots rather than head strikes makes the story even more impressive. Body shots in sparring are typically considered safer than headshots, but Topuria’s power apparently transcends normal sparring etiquette. Dvalishvili joked that he was thankful his head remained intact after their sessions.

This isn’t just about raw power though. Dvalishvili praised Topuria’s complete skill set, noting his wrestling and jiu-jitsu abilities alongside his obvious striking prowess. This combination of physical gifts and mental sharpness has allowed Topuria to dominate elite competition throughout his undefeated career.

Dvalishvili also shared how he helped prepare Topuria mentally for his fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. When Topuria expressed conflicted feelings about fighting such a respectful opponent, Dvalishvili reminded him that friendship ends when the cage door closes.

The Georgian connection between these two champions highlights how small countries can produce outsized talent in combat sports. Both fighters have reached the summit of their divisions. And all of this is done while maintaining their cultural identities and supporting each other’s success, even if they can’t safely spar together anymore!

(Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images)

Ilia Topuria

Merab Dvalishvili

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!