Gaethje Sparring Partner Reveals How Upcuts Opened Topuria and Key Camp Tactics

Nikita Kulishin, a primary sparring partner for Justin Gaethje ahead of Freedom 250, revealed that he suffered the same type of cut from Gaethje's uppercut during camp that Topuria sustained in the first round. Kulishin described Gaethje's signature technique: feinting a shot with a low outside step, then transitioning into a rising uppercut that immediately opens cuts. He also confirmed that Gaethje deliberately made exaggerated head slips to his right throughout the camp because Topuria rarely throws high kicks, making deep dips safe — a detail attributed to coach Trevor Wittman's meticulous preparation.