Mastermind in Ilia Topuria’s Training Camp Exposes Weakness of Justin Gaethje

Ilia Topuria just got some tips on how he can exploit Justin Gaethje's tendencies to knock him out at UFC Freedom 250.

Mastermind in Ilia Topuria’s Training Camp Exposes Weakness of Justin Gaethje

Aleksandre Topuria advice Ilia Topuria on Justin Gaethje [via Bloody Elbow and MMA Fighting]

In Short
  • Ilia Topuria's brother, Aleksandre, has identified Justin Gaethje's biggest weakness for their upcoming fight.
  • Aleksandre Topuria emphasizes the need for calculated strikes against Gaethje, who is dangerous even when vulnerable.
  • The Topuria brothers have a combined undefeated record in the UFC, showcasing their dominance in the lighter weight divisions.

Ilia Topuria has one of the best coaching staffs in MMA. His trainers and coaches have helped him craft game plans to vanquish former champions like Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Alexander Volkanovski. None are as prominent as his brother and fellow UFC fighter, Aleksandre Topuria, who has now laid out a blueprint to beating El Matador’s upcoming opponent, Justin Gaethje.

Aleksandre Topuria, who is a year older than Ilia Topuria, fights in the UFC’s bantamweight division. Much like his brother, he is undefeated in the UFC. However, he did lose early in his professional career to Ivo Ivanov. His own career aside, the 30-year-old has been a crucial part of Ilia Topuria’s training camps, and the upcoming Justin Gaethje is no different.

As they prepare for the fight on the UFC Freedom 250 card, ‘El Conquistador’ told his brother exactly what the American’s biggest weakness is in the octagon. The older Topuria believes this weakness will be the opening his younger brother needs to capitalize on to knock out his American opponent.

One important thing. Justin Gaethje picks his shots when you stand in front of him…He’s very fragile when he hits, but it’s a double-edged sword to choose to hit him when he’s hitting. So you’ve got to be very selective with your shots. When he hits, is when he’s very vulnerable to shots because he doesn’t know how to hit clean. He hits with everything, that’s where he’s vulnerable.

Aleksandre Topuria via Ilia Topuria’s YouTube channel

However, in the same clip, Aleksandre Topuria also reiterated that while Justin Gaethje is at his most vulnerable in this position, he is also at his most dangerous. He reminded his brother that hitting the interim champion, even while he was open, had to be a “calculated” move. After all, the American is notorious for absorbing a shot from an opponent just to land one of his own.

Ilia Topuria himself knows how dangerous his upcoming opponent can be. The Spaniard spoke about how he will not make the mistake of underestimating Gaethje and his unorthodox style. But now, with his brother’s insights, it seems ‘El Matador’ is attempting to replicate the success of his last fight at lightweight, where he brutally knocked out former champion Charles Oliveira in the first round.

Aleksandre was also instrumental in helping Ilia Topuria secure his first UFC championship. Between the first and second rounds of the Alexander Volkanovski fight at UFC 298, ‘El Conquistador’ told his brother to work his counter overhand right off of Volkanovski’s jab.

With Volk’s tendency to back up in a straight line off his jab with his chin in the air, ‘El Matador’ pounced on the opportunity and knocked the Australian out cold. The older Topuria brother has been critical to the success his younger brother has found in the UFC. In fact, Aleksandre once discussed putting his career on hold to help his younger brother.

Aleksandre Topuria recalled putting his career on hold for Ilia Topuria

Aleksandre Topuria is getting close to the bantamweight rankings with a 2-0 record in the UFC. In his first fight, he suplexed Alexander Volkanovski’s training partner, Colby Thicknesse, and beat him via unanimous decision. Then at UFC Qatar, he beat Bekzat Almakhan to extend his win streak to 2.

Ilia Topuria and Aleksandre Topuria
Ilia Topuria celebrates Aleksandre Topuria’s win [via YouTube]

During the build-up to that fight, Topuria did an interview with veteran journalist Kevin Iole. In it, the 30-year-old revealed that he didn’t mind putting his own career on the back burner to ensure his brother’s success in MMA.

For me, everything I do is for my family, for my close people, for my future, you know. For sure, for sure, it’s for me too, because if I’m not great and if I’m not in good shape and if I don’t work in me, I cannot give anybody nothing. But yes, everything I do is for my family. And if I have to put on the side sport, my career or something like that because of one of my family members, I will not think twice.

Aleksandre Topuria told Kevin Iole

The Spaniard explained that he believed every man should have this outlook in life. However, he also maintained that with his brother having scaled the UFC mountain, becoming double champion, now was his time. Moreover, ‘El Conquistador’ said that he would take his time and enjoy his run in the UFC as much as he could.

Nevertheless, with a combined 11-0 record in the UFC, the Topuria brothers have established a stronghold over the UFC’s lighter weight divisions. Now, as the UFC Freedom 250 card approaches, Aleksandre and Ilia Topuria will look to keep their dominance intact with a decisive defense of El Matador’s’ lightweight title.

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