Merab Dvalishvili isn’t letting online criticism of Ilia Topuria slide.
Speaking with Ariel Helwani, the former bantamweight champion didn’t hold back when addressing fans who mocked Topuria in the aftermath of his brutal title loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.
“Ilia fought four rounds with a broken orbital… Some people find the moment to disrespect him. F*ck those people who disrespect Ilia, my brother, or any warrior,” Merab said.
Topuria’s title unification bout with Gaethje ended when his corner decided to stop the fight between the fourth and fifth rounds. The damage by that point was severe: Topuria suffered fractures to both orbital bones along with a broken nose, injuries significant enough to draw a maximum 180-day medical suspension afterward.
Despite the damage, Topuria fought through nearly the entire fight, going roughly 20 minutes before his team made the call to stop it.
Merab Dvalishvili pointed directly to that detail as the reason the criticism struck a nerve with him. In his view, people mocking Topuria online for the loss have no understanding of what it actually takes to compete through that kind of trauma, arguing that most people couldn’t even manage basic tasks with a broken orbital bone, let alone continue fighting at the highest level for four rounds.
Standing Up for a Fellow Champion
For Merab, the criticism wasn’t just about Topuria as a fighter; it was about respecting what happens inside the cage in general. By calling Topuria “my brother” and extending the sentiment to “any warrior,” Merab framed his frustration as less about defending one specific fighter and more about a broader standard he believes should apply to anyone willing to compete through that level of physical punishment.
The comments come as Topuria remains on the shelf recovering from his injuries, with no clear timetable yet for when he’ll return to the Octagon.
Merab Dvalishvili says Ilia Topuria is just enjoying life right now during his time away
Merab Dvalishvili believes Ilia Topuria is making the most of his time away from the UFC and simply enjoying life before returning to competition.
Despite Topuria’s absence, Dvalishvili remains confident that the former featherweight and lightweight champion will be a major force when he eventually steps back into the Octagon. He said on TAHS:
“As you guys all see, he’s having a great time. He’s enjoying life. When he comes back, he will get back the belt and he will beat everybody. Nobody can stop him.”
About The Author
