Russian lightweight Nikita Kulshin, who served as a primary sparring partner for Justin Gaethje ahead of his bout with Ilia Topuria, has detailed the camp's structure and methods. Gaethje trained at altitude of roughly 1,800–1,900 meters in Arvada, Colorado, logging two to three hours of wrestling-based work per week, including wall work, scrambles, and submission defense. Coach Trevor Wittman's focus was on foot positioning rather than pre-set combinations, and Kulshin noted that Gaethje worked low kicks in sparring without going full power, while high-kick training was present but not a heavy emphasis. Kulshin also revealed that Wittman personally paid him more than the agreed amount for his sparring contributions and designs and sews the team's ONX equipment himself.
Russian lightweight Nikita Kulshin has opened up about his time as a primary sparring partner for UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje ahead of Gaethje's upcoming bout with Ilia Topuria, offering a detailed look at how the camp was structured and what Wittman's coaching philosophy looks like from the inside.
Gaethje, who holds a 28-5 record and carries the lightweight title into the fight, trained at altitude in Arvada, Colorado, at roughly 1,800 to 1,900 meters above sea level. The 37-year-old American, standing five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach, averaged two to three hours of wrestling-focused work per week, covering wall work, scrambles, and submission defense. Coach Trevor Wittman's approach centered on foot positioning rather than drilling fixed combinations, a method that allows fighters to read and react in real time. Kulshin noted that Gaethje worked low kicks during sparring without committing to full power, and while high kicks were part of training, they were not a central emphasis. Gaethje lands 6.48 significant strikes per minute and connects at a 58 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect a striker who values precision alongside volume.
His opponent, Ilia Topuria, enters ranked second in the lightweight division and first pound-for-pound, carrying a 17-1 record. The 29-year-old Spain-based fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Kulshin added a personal detail about Wittman, revealing that the coach paid him more than the originally agreed sparring fee and that Wittman personally designs and sews the team's ONX equipment himself.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's camp emphasis on wrestling and submission defense directly addresses Topuria's 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes and active grappling game
- Foot-positioning coaching over set combinations suggests Gaethje is being prepared for a reactive, adjustable game plan
- Altitude training adds a conditioning layer to preparation against a physically smaller but technically complete opponent
