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Nikita Kulshyn, a primary sparring partner for Justin Gaethje ahead of UFC Freedom 250, confirmed that Gaethje's cutting uppercut was a heavily drilled technique in camp — the same punch opened a cut on Kulshyn in training in the same spot Topuria was later cut in the first round. Kulshyn revealed that Gaethje deliberately used exaggerated head movement to one side, exploiting the fact that Topuria rarely throws leg kicks, allowing him to dip low and angle into his uppercut sequences safely. The preparation, credited heavily to coach Trevor Wittman, translated directly into the fight with virtually every practiced detail coming together on fight night.
AgentMMA.com
