Russian lightweight Nikita Kulishin, who served as a primary sparring partner for Justin Gaethje ahead of his fight with Ilia Topuria, has described conditions inside the camp in Arvada, Colorado. Kulishin noted that Gaethje trains wrestling roughly two to three hours per week, works extensively on foot positioning under trainer Trevor Wittman, and landed low kicks in sparring without going full force, possibly protecting an existing injury. Kulishin also revealed that Gaethje trained high kicks during camp, consistent with the technique that dropped Topuria twice in their previous encounter, and that Wittman paid Kulishin more than the agreed amount for his sparring work.
A sparring partner who worked closely with UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje ahead of his upcoming fight against Ilia Topuria has offered a rare inside look at preparations taking place at Gaethje's camp in Arvada, Colorado.
Russian lightweight Nikita Kulishin, who served as a primary sparring partner for Gaethje during the training block, described a camp built around detail and precision under trainer Trevor Wittman. According to Kulishin, Gaethje dedicates roughly two to three hours per week to wrestling, while a significant portion of the work focuses on foot positioning — a hallmark of Wittman's coaching philosophy. Kulishin also noted that Gaethje landed low kicks in sparring without going at full force, which Kulishin suggested may indicate the champion is protecting an existing injury. Perhaps most notably, Gaethje has been drilling high kicks during camp, the same technique that dropped Topuria twice in their previous meeting. Kulishin also mentioned that Wittman paid him above the originally agreed amount for his sparring services.
Gaethje, 37, holds a 28-5 record and currently sits atop the lightweight division as champion. The Arizona-born fighter stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach and has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and volume striking, averaging 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — among the highest marks in the division.
Topuria, ranked number two at lightweight and the current pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, carries a 17-1 record into the contest. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach and lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute while also mixing in 1.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him a versatile threat on the feet and on the mat.
Why it matters
- Gaethje's emphasis on high kicks carries direct relevance given their effectiveness in the pair's previous encounter
- Reduced wrestling volume and potentially limited sparring force could signal a physical concern for the champion heading into fight week
- The stylistic contrast — Gaethje's elite striking volume against Topuria's well-rounded attack and pound-for-pound status — makes preparation details unusually significant
