Justin Gaethje’s longtime coach Trevor Wittman believes Ilia Topuria made a costly mistake when Gaethje was badly compromised.
Justin Gaethje claimed the UFC lightweight throne by handing Ilia Topuria the first loss of his career on Sunday on the White House lawn. Gaethje won the UFC lightweight title after Topuria’s corner opted to throw in the towel just before the start of Round 5 after Topuria suffered a likely broken orbital bone.
It was a stunning finish to a historic event at UFC Freedom 250 in front of millions watching worldwide. Topuria nearly finished Gaethje in the early rounds of the fight, especially after dropping Gaethje with a body shot.
Instead of attempting to welcome Gaethje back to his feet, Topuria went for a takedown, which gave Gaethje time to recover from the ailment. That moment was pivotal in Gaethje walking away with the world title, according to his coach.
Trevor Wittman: Ilia Topuria let Justin Gaethje off the hook after liver shot
In a post-fight conversation with Daniel Cormier, Gaethje’s longtime coach, Trevor Wittman, pointed out one decision that Topuria made that turned the tide.
“Overcoming the body shot, I think Ilia made a big mistake there, taking Justin to the ground,” Wittman said of Gaethje’s win over Topuria.
“And Justin’s just a durable guy. He’s very smart in situations. He knows when to take breaks. There are times in the fight — the third and the fourth round — where I was like, ‘Stop taking breaks! You’ve got to fight!’ But easier said than done.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
Topuria called for an immediate rematch with Gaethje in his first post-fight social media statement. Gaethje will likely face top contender Arman Tsarukyan for his first title defense if he decides against retiring following UFC Freedom 250.
Does Ilia Topuria warrant an immediate rematch with Justin Gaethje? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
