Gaethje's Russian sparring partner reveals camp details ahead of Topuria fight

Russian lightweight Nikita Kulishin (9-0 MMA) served as Justin Gaethje's primary sparring partner in Arvada, Colorado, where the camp trains at an altitude of roughly 1,800–1,900 meters. Kulishin reports that Gaethje is sharp and mobile, logging two to three hours of wrestling work per week, with sessions focused on wall work, scrambles, and standup grappling rather than full grappling rounds. Coach Trevor Wittman kept the mood upbeat throughout — even while dealing with a painful tooth — and personally paid Kulishin more than the agreed fee. Gaethje gifted his sparring partner a full set of ONX equipment on the first day, and Kulishin noted that low kicks were practiced with caution in sparring, while high kicks were trained but without heavy emphasis.