Justin Gaethje Explains Ilia Topuria's Predictable Footwork That Led to UFC Victory
UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje highlighted a consistent pattern in Ilia Topuria's footwork as a crucial element in his successful title defense at UFC Freedom 250, where Gaethje secured a TKO victory.
Gaethje, who handed Topuria his first career loss, is now considering his next opponent, potentially facing the winner of Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mauricio Ruffy. Despite a rematch with Topuria being unlikely in the immediate future, there are discussions about its possibility.
The aggressive strategy employed by Gaethje was a significant factor in his win. For the first time since the event, Gaethje shared insights into how he and his team prepared for Topuria, focusing on a specific aspect of the challenger's approach.
Gaethje Identifies Topuria's Key Tactical Weakness
During a recent appearance on the MightyCast podcast, Gaethje discussed the strategy for the Topuria fight. He pointed out that Topuria's footwork maintains a consistent rhythm, making it predictable.
“I guess the best explanation for you to understand is his feet never change rhythms,” Gaethje stated. “He never changes rhythm with his feet. It’s always pop, pop, pop, pop, and it’s forwards or backwards. He’s very rarely moving laterally, and that’s how he fights.
“So ultimately it’s like timing his feet and interrupting. The game plan was to interrupt his feet, especially when it’s so constant. It’s very easy to predict, and I’ve never seen him alter from that.”
Topuria's return to the octagon is currently unconfirmed. Commentator Joe Rogan has advised Topuria against rushing a rematch with Gaethje.
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