Ilia Topuria has quickly risen as one of the UFC’s brightest stars, establishing a record unmatched by many within five years in the premier MMA organization. Legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has expressed admiration for Topuria, highlighting the fighter’s extraordinary confidence, a trait he believes connects Topuria to boxing icons Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson. This comparison centers on what Atlas calls “supreme confidence,” which, according to him, makes Topuria exceptionally difficult to defeat.
Aside from his well-known knockout power, Topuria’s supreme confidence distinguishes him from peers. Before his knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298, Topuria even updated his Instagram bio to proclaim himself as the “UFC featherweight champion.” He had also famously celebrated a night-before victory party preceding his lightweight title-winning knockout against Charles Oliveira, signaling his unshakeable self-belief.
Atlas Explains the Depth of ‘Supreme Confidence’ in Combat
In an interview with BetVictor Online Casino, echoed by MMA Junkie, Teddy Atlas elaborated on why he champions Topuria’s supreme confidence as rare and critical, quoting Cus D’Amato on the matter. Atlas explained that supreme confidence transcends usual self-assurance—it is a complete belief that nothing can prevent victory, regardless of external factors or the opponent’s skill.
“Ilia Topuria, he’d be great to have on that White House lawn, but for me, what makes him so special, Cus [D’Amato] once said to me that if somebody ever gets supreme confidence, it makes them very rare. It makes them very hard to beat and supreme confidence the way that he identified it and explained it to me was very rare in a way, that he only knew two people that ever had it: Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. [H/T MMA Junkie]” — Teddy Atlas, Boxing Trainer
“You go into the ring completely believing that there is nothing on earth that will keep you from winning that match. And even though they didn’t win all their fights, they had that belief. [H/T MMA Junkie]” — Teddy Atlas, Boxing Trainer
Atlas’s insights emphasize that even the greatest fighters don’t always win, but this level of unwavering confidence makes them extraordinarily dangerous and mentally unstoppable.
Ilia Topuria Credits Boxing Icon Canelo Alvarez for Shaping His Approach
Topuria’s striking style has dismantled top MMA strikers like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway with a blend of aggression and technical skill. Notably, his inspiration does not primarily come from MMA figures but from boxing’s Canelo Alvarez. During an appearance on the PBD podcast, Topuria expressed his admiration for Alvarez and detailed how closely he studied the Mexican boxer’s techniques and training to enhance his own skills.
“We like a lot, Canelo. Canelo was and is one of my favorite athletes. Yeah, I learned so much from him. Technical skills. We were watching his videos, his training footage, like every day, and we were trying to copy that, to repeat that. He inspired us a lot.” — Ilia Topuria, UFC Fighter
This influence helps explain Topuria’s formidable striking and precision, which have become a signature element of his fights in the UFC’s featherweight and lightweight divisions.
Significance and Future Implications for Ilia Topuria
The comparison drawn by Teddy Atlas places Ilia Topuria among a rare group of elite fighters whose mental strength rivals their physical ability. This supreme confidence, coupled with his proven knockout power and refined striking skills influenced by Canelo Alvarez, positions Topuria as a major contender in UFC’s landscape. His confidence and skill could continue propelling him toward championship success and long-term dominance.
As Topuria advances his career, fans and analysts alike will watch how his supreme confidence holds up against the highest level of competition, potentially rewriting what it means to be a dominant UFC champion with a champion’s mindset borrowed from boxing legends.