Quick read
Justin Gaethje's trainer Trevor Whitman explained that the key tactical goal against Ilia Topuria was to use footwork to exit to the outside of his lead foot and work left-side angles under pressure, neutralizing Topuria's powerful straight shots off the shoulder. Whitman said the plan called for early high kicks rather than low kicks to make Topuria respect the threat and that the turning point came when Topuria shifted his weight to his back foot, triggering a jab war Gaethje was better equipped to win. The trainer also noted that Topuria made a significant error by attempting a takedown when Gaethje was rocked, and praised Gaethje's ring-smart ability to use pauses to recover during the later rounds.
AgentMMA.com
