Is MMA stealing boxing’s thunder? Is it evolving into boxing 2.0 right before our eyes? Well, that might sound like a stretch, but if you’ve been listening to combat sports icon Teddy Atlas lately, you’d know it’s not. The once-proud boundary between the sweet science and the world of spinning elbows, guillotines, and ground-and-pound is starting to blur. And, at the forefront of this change, we have Ilia Topuria. Speaking to Patrick Bet David, Topuria expressed supreme confidence in being able to transition to boxing within six months to compete at the highest level if he wanted. And legendary coach Teddy Atlas certainly agrees.

On a recent episode of his podcast, THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, Teddy Atlas had a moment of revelation while discussing UFC sensation Ilia Topuria. The man who once sculpted Mike Tyson’s ferocity declared, “I see a professional boxer,” he said, stunned. Atlas seems to be witnessing a new breed of MMA fighter who’s bringing the finesse and poise of the boxing ring into the Octagon.

This comment is one such reflection of change in perception towards MMA fighters. Not mere well-rounded warriors but as refined, high-IQ strikers on par with elite boxers! And the comment was not only about Topuria. According to Atlas, the entire UFC landscape is shifting. It was a turning point in how MMA fighters are being perceived. They are now beyond well-rounded warriors, but as refined, high-IQ strikers on par with elite boxers. And it wasn’t just about Topuria.

According to Atlas, the entire UFC landscape is shifting: “Again, I see the transition. I see the development. They are getting markedly better in all areas. If you’re not good in all areas now—striking, grappling, jiu-jitsu, if you’re not— and some of these guys that come from the regions that Khabib comes from, oh my god, on the floor”?

He continued, “Again, I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the transition there where they’re so good on the mat that, if you’re not either really good with your takedown defense and at least pretty damn good on the floor, you got a problem. You gotta be good in all areas… you gotta be good at striking, you gotta be good on the floor—or at least good enough.” Atlas even gave a nod to UFC 314 co-headliner Paddy Pimblett for being on track with this same blueprint.

Atlas’s admiration extended to fighters from regions like Dagestan and Georgia. These areas once exported wrestling phenoms like Khabib Nurmagomedov, but now produce complete athletes. Hence, the question arises: Is the line between the ring and the cage vanishing?

So… is Boxing on the verge of reinvention with Ilia Topuria?

Here’s the irony: while boxing is often criticized for stagnant matchmaking and fading stars, MMA may be breathing new life into the sport. Fighters like Ilia Topuria aren’t looking to leave MMA behind, but certainly they’re taking boxing pretty seriously.

In the past, that would’ve been enough to label someone “well-rounded.” But in 2025, it’s simply expected. Fighters like Paddy Pimblett are being pressure-tested for crossover stardom. And with Topuria now teasing a move to boxing, the groundwork is being laid for a new kind of multi-discipline champion.

Topuria’s confidence is built on practicing boxing every day. When he said to Patrick Bet David, “Put whoever you want in front of me,” he sounds prepared. He’s in the gym every day, and already looks sharper than half the pros out there. The gap between MMA and boxing used to be massive. Not anymore. Fighters like Topuria are closing that distance in real time. And when a guy who’s 16-0 in MMA says six months is all he needs to hang with real boxers, it surely is a challenge grounded in hard practice.

The cross-pollination of disciplines is now so advanced that purists in both camps are starting to take notice. And more importantly, it’s sparking important questions. What happens when these hybrid fighters start entering boxing rings as legitimate contenders, and not sideshows or one-off crossover main events?

Do you think Ilia Topuria can really hang with top-level boxers after six months of pure boxing prep? Drop your take in the comments below. Let us know who you’d match him up with first and whether you think he will be unbeatable, like in MMA, or get humbled fast.