Merab Dvalishvili: Ilia Topuria fought blind after round one

Merab Dvalishvili says Ilia Topuria was visually impaired for most of his UFC White House main event against Justin Gaethje, a loss that left the bantamweight champion so distraught he has struggled to sleep since.

Topuria dropped his lightweight title and his unbeaten record when his corner stopped the fight after four rounds, with both eyes nearly swollen shut and his face badly marked. But Dvalishvili told MMA Fighting that his longtime friend was compromised from the first round, when what appeared to be a thumb strike damaged Topuria's vision. "Unfortunately, Ilia was fighting blind since the first round," Dvalishvili said. "I think one moment Justin Gaethje threw a punch like this [with his thumb extended], I think he eye poked him. It was even worse and then Ilia [was] blind in both eyes."

Topuria nearly finished Gaethje despite injury

Dvalishvili pointed to a moment when Topuria dropped Gaethje with a body shot and believes the former champion could have finished the fight with ground strikes. Instead, Topuria pursued a submission and Gaethje survived. The swelling and cuts that developed over the following rounds made it clear Topuria was diminished, according to Dvalishvili, who attended the event as a guest and called the experience heartbreaking.

The loss has weighed heavily on Dvalishvili, who said he has checked social media constantly since the fight and found the commentary from fans in his home country particularly difficult. "I haven't really slept good," he said. "I've been checking online, so much talk, so much nonsense talking and people have so many crazy opinions."

Gaethje has ruled out an immediate rematch, and Arman Tsarukyan is considered the leading contender for the next title shot. But Dvalishvili expects a different outcome if the two meet again. "I believe if they fight again, Ilia will win all the times but it was Justin Gaethje's moment that day," he said. Dvalishvili faces Henry Cejudo in a wrestling match at RAF on July 11.

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• MMA Fighting — Merab Dvalishvili reveals Ilia Topuria was ‘fighting blind’ after first round against Justin Gaethje