Devon Larratt and Levan Saginashvili found each other in Batumi ahead of East vs West 25 with the warmth of old teammates. One man has spent years trying to solve the other.

They hugged. They traded jokes. Devon even raised the idea of living in Georgia for a stretch so he could train with Levan’s group.

Arm wrestling often sells tension through personal hostility. Devon and Levan have something better. Their respect looks genuine, and the table problem remains brutal.

The Rivalry Has Room for Affection

The greeting felt easy. Devon and Levan told each other how good it was to reunite before the conversation drifted into teasing.

Levan has beaten Devon decisively twice on the right arm. Those losses left Devon chasing a technical answer instead of carrying resentment.

That dynamic gives the rivalry unusual weight. Devon openly treats Levan as the top standard while still believing another attempt could reveal something new. Our earlier look at why a third match could matter came from that same tension. Respect and ambition fit comfortably in the same hand.

The warmth makes Devon’s pursuit feel less performative. He wants the position Levan keeps taking away from him.

Georgia Turns Friendship Into Useful Work

Devon’s most interesting idea involved an apartment in Georgia and time training with the local group. A nearby gym apparently had an arm-wrestling table ready. He sounded interested immediately.

That kind of access could help. Georgian practice rooms offer large hands and heavy inside pressure. Devon would get live feedback on whether his riser can stay present when a strong cup starts closing over it.

His Giant Pumpkin approach for Levan already pours most of his attention into one right arm. Training in Georgia would give that specialized work a rougher test than another isolated lift. The setup alone matters. A fresh hand can expose a lazy knuckle before the ready-go.

The reunion carries a practical edge. Devon enjoys the people and studies every room he enters.

Respect Makes the Next Grip More Interesting

Devon can praise Levan as the king of Georgia and the king of the world without surrendering his own competitive case. That balance suits him. His public personality has always mixed affection with irritation, sometimes within the same minute.

The contrast feels even sharper beside Devon’s combative table persona at its worst. In the grip, he will argue over webbing and search for every millimeter of height. Away from it, he can hug the man whose cup has wrecked both of his title attempts.

Levan benefits too. His dominance carries more force when he shows no need for fake hostility. He respects Devon’s persistence and still owns the technical advantage that has defined their rivalry.

If they pull again, the affection will survive the first referee’s grip. So will Devon’s need to keep his pronation. Levan will still try to bury the wrist and bring his press behind it.