Quick read
Nikita Kulishin, Justin Gaethje's primary sparring partner heading into the Topuria fight, revealed that Gaethje's sharp uppercut — which opened a cut on Topuria in the first round — landed in exactly the same spot as a cut Kulishin had sustained from the same punch in camp. Kulishin explained that Gaethje deliberately used deep, unconventional head movement to the right side knowing that Topuria rarely throws high kicks, allowing him to take risks that would be dangerous against other opponents. The gameplan, developed by coach Trevor Wittman, included a faking motion that mimicked a takedown attempt before transitioning into uppercuts, a sequence Gaethje drilled roughly 20 times in preparation.
AgentMMA.com
