Trevor Wittman: Topuria's Ground Decision After Body Shot Cost Him

Justin Gaethje's coach Trevor Wittman believes Ilia Topuria let victory slip away when he chose to grapple after landing a crushing body shot in their lightweight title fight at UFC Freedom 250.

Gaethje overcame that second-round shot to grind down Topuria over four rounds, forcing the Spanish-Georgian's corner to wave off the bout before the fifth. Speaking to Daniel Cormier after the White House event, Wittman said his fighter was genuinely hurt by the body strike but escaped when Topuria inexplicably took the action to the mat. "I think Ilia made a big mistake there," Wittman told Cormier, per MMA Mania. "Justin was really hurt. He was hurt. And Justin's just a durable guy. He's very smart in situations. He knows when to take breaks."

How Wittman's Game Plan Broke Topuria

The veteran cornerman detailed a strategy built around footwork angles and exploiting Topuria's inexperience in deep water. Wittman instructed Gaethje to pull Topuria forward with high kicks early rather than leg kicks, forcing respect for strikes to the power hand. The plan banked on Topuria tiring — the featherweight champion had not seen a fourth round since 2023 — and shifting from an aggressive forward stance to a defensive posture. Once Wittman spotted Topuria shifting weight to his rear leg, he told Gaethje to press the attack.

Wittman acknowledged moments where Gaethje took breaks mid-fight that frustrated him from the corner, saying he urged his fighter to keep the pressure on in rounds three and four. Still, he credited Gaethje's durability and ring intelligence for weathering the body shot crisis. The coach called Gaethje one of the most deserving fighters for the White House platform, noting how many times the lightweight had chased the undisputed title.

A rematch between Gaethje and Topuria has already opened with Gaethje as the betting underdog, according to early odds reports.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Trevor Wittman believes Topuria botched body shot moment against Gaethje: ‘Ilia made a big mistake there’