Gaethje Sparring Partner Reveals Key Tactical Details Behind Topuria KO

Nikita Kulishin, Justin Gaethje's primary sparring partner ahead of UFC Freedom 250, has shed light on the technical preparation that led to Gaethje's upset victory over Ilia Topuria. Kulishin revealed that Gaethje's cutting uppercuts — the same punch that opened a cut on Topuria in round one — also gave Kulishin an identical cut during camp, and described the specific footwork pattern Gaethje used to sneak them in. He explained that Gaethje deliberately dipped his head deep to one side because he knew Topuria rarely throws leg kicks, making it safe to create angles that way — a detail confirmed as part of coach Trevor Wittman's gameplan. Kulishin also attributed Gaethje's durability to dense bone structure and years of sparring without headgear.