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Dvalishvili cites eye pokes in Topuria's loss to Gaethje

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 30, 2026, 12:07 PM

Last updated Jun 30, 2026

Dvalishvili cites eye pokes in Topuria's loss to Gaethje

Summary

Merab Dvalishvili expressed concerns about Ilia Topuria's performance during his recent loss to Justin Gaethje at the UFC Freedom 250 event on June 15, 2026. Dvalishvili, a fellow Georgian fighter, stated that Topuria was severely affected by eye pokes, noting that he was 'fighting blind' from the first round. Topuria suffered from injuries including two broken orbitals and a broken nose, resulting from the fight. Dvalishvili believes Topuria will recover and return stronger after this setback.

Source Links

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Status Watch

•Ilia Topuria lost to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.
•Dvalishvili claims Topuria was hindered by eye pokes during the fight.
•Topuria suffered multiple injuries, including broken bones.
•Dvalishvili is confident Topuria will make a strong comeback.

Latest Updates

12:07 PMYahoo Sports — Merab Dvalishvili blames eye pokes for Ilia Topuria’s loss to Justin Gaethje: ‘Ilia was fighting blind’

What they're saying

"
Merab Dvalishvili believes his fellow Georgian fighter Ilia Topuria will return stronger and better than ever. Dvalishvili and Topuria are going through similar situations, having gone from seemingly invincible to both losing their belts in their last fight. Dvalishvili lost a clear decision to Petr Yan in December, while Topuria got into a car wreck […]
— Yahoo Sports

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