Ilia Topuria's winning mentality: "I'm not worried about losing my unbeaten streak, because I know I'll have it until the end."

Ilia Topuria has become a total star. Within his sport, mixed martial arts (MMA), he has achieved the greatest achievement. He became UFC champion by defeating a legend like Alexander Volkanovski . Now, El Matador isn't sitting back, as he's already looking down the lightweight division (155 pounds or 70.3 kilos) to pursue his second belt. The date and location have been set: June 28 at UFC 317. All that remains to be seen is whether it will be Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira.

But what has made him a mass phenomenon hasn't just been his skills inside the cage. His actions outside of the sport have also influenced him, as has his mentality, which serves as a great example for young people. Since joining Dana White's company, he's maintained the same approach he maintains today. Although many label him arrogant, he explains that it's a matter of confidence in the hard work he puts in. "I do everything in my power. I'm not too worried about losing my undefeated record because I know he's going to be my partner until I leave this sport. I already know I'm going to win ; I wouldn't enter a competition if I didn't know I was going to win," El Matador told El Hormiguero.

Even so, it's reaching more and more people, so the real meaning of his words is obscured. In press conferences, as well as on social media, Topuria is known for selling his arguments through trash talk , a way of inflaming the confrontation with words. In the public's eyes, he often comes across as the "bad guy." But this is nothing new for the Spanish-Georgian. "It took me time to understand that all criticism is a confession. What you see in others is because you first see it in yourself. Nothing constructive in my life has ever come in the form of criticism. I don't usually pay attention to it ," he said confidently.

And while one might think that in a sport like this, rivalries go beyond blows, penetrating deep into the core of their beings, this is far from the truth. "There's no resentment that comes from the heart; everyone is fighting for their families , I'm fighting for mine. At the end of the day, it's still just sport. We're teammates. First, I fight for myself; it's what I've loved to do since I had a guilty conscience. And then, obviously, I do it for my family; it's a great driving force ," Topuria declared.

In the end, everyone who steps into the octagon does so for their own reasons. They're just looking to do their job, to provide for their family , even if that means hitting the person in front of them. Therefore, it's not just necessary to have good physical abilities and be a master of combat. You also need a mentality as strong as your body to withstand what this sport brings.