Ilia Topuria was ‘fighting blind’ after first round against Justin Gaethje, claims Merab Dvalishvili

UFC star Merab Dvalishvili has given his thoughts on Ilia Topuria’s recent loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.

In the main event of UFC Freedom 250, Ilia Topuria lost the UFC lightweight championship after being stopped on the stool by Justin Gaethje. It was one of the more shocking results in the recent history of mixed martial arts, and that’s putting it lightly.

RELATED: Justin Gaethje doesn’t plan to give Ilia Topuria an immediate rematch: “He quit on the stool”

With Gaethje now being set to move on to even greater things, there are plenty of questions surrounding the future of Ilia Topuria. He was once considered to be this unstoppable machine, but as is so often the case in mixed martial arts, you can’t take any fight for granted.

In a recent interview, Topuria’s close friend Merab Dvalishvili had the following to say about the fight.

Dvalishvili discusses Topuria’s recent loss

“My brother Ilia, unfortunately, he lost but he showed a great fight,” Dvalishvili told MMA Fighting. “Fight was really tough. Unfortunately, Ilia was fighting blind since the first round. 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. He [wanted] to keep fighting. He almost finished Justin Gaethje from the body shot. He even dropped him.

“If Ilia continued [throwing] hammerfists or throwing punches, he would finish him. But Ilia chased the submission and then Justin Gaethje somehow survived. It was a tough fight but I’m proud of my brother Ilia. He showed a great, great fight.”

Quotes via MMA Fighting

What do you believe should be next for Ilia Topuria in the UFC? Does Merab have a point about the eye poke? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!