Nikita Kulshin, a primary sparring partner for Justin Gaethje in his camp ahead of UFC Freedom 250, revealed that Gaethje's cutting uppercuts were a central weapon in preparation — the same punch that opened a cut on Topuria's eye in the first round, mirroring a cut Kulshin himself suffered in sparring. Kulshin explained that Gaethje deliberately used exaggerated head movement to the right, knowing Topuria rarely throws high kicks, allowing him to operate from low angles and transition into clinch work. The tactic, credited heavily to coach Trevor Wittman, was drilled approximately 20 times and translated directly into the fight.
Nikita Kulshin, a primary sparring partner for Justin Gaethje during his UFC Freedom 250 camp, has gone public with tactical details behind Gaethje's victory over Ilia Topuria, revealing that a specific cutting uppercut was drilled relentlessly and deployed with precise intent on fight night.
Gaethje, now the lightweight champion at 37 years old, carries a 28-5 record and represents one of the most active strikers in the division, averaging 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. The Arizona-based fighter trains out of Genesis Training Center under coach Trevor Wittman, and Kulshin credited Wittman heavily for designing the tactical blueprint used against Topuria. According to Kulshin, the uppercut that opened a cut above Topuria's eye in the first round was no accident — the same punch had already drawn blood from Kulshin himself during sparring sessions. Gaethje reportedly rehearsed the combination approximately 20 times in camp, pairing it with exaggerated head movement to his right and deliberate low-angle positioning before transitioning into clinch work.
The head movement strategy was built around a specific read on Topuria's tendencies. Kulshin explained that Gaethje felt confident leaning right because Topuria rarely targets that lane with high kicks, creating a safe corridor to dip, load, and fire upward.
Topuria, the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport at just 29 years old, entered the bout ranked second in the lightweight division with a 17-1 record. The Spanish-Georgian standout out of Climent Club averages 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also brings a well-rounded threat with 1.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making the tactical choice to control distance and angles even more significant against such a versatile opponent.
Why it matters
- The uppercut detail confirms Gaethje's camp identified and exploited a specific structural habit in Topuria's game
- Wittman's gameplan, drilled to near-automatic execution, shows the level of preparation behind the upset
- The cut in the first round may have shaped the fight's momentum significantly, validating the camp's approach before the final result
