'Always the same rhythm and pattern, and I attacked that'

Justin Gaethje (right) lands a powerful right straight on the chin of then-lightweight champion Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event in June. (Getty Images)
Justin Gaethje (right) lands a powerful right straight on the chin of then-lightweight champion Ilia Topuria at the UFC White House event in June. (Getty Images)

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje said correctly reading a specific pattern in Ilia Topuria's movement was one of the key factors behind his stunning upset.

Gaethje defeated Topuria by TKO in the fourth round at UFC Freedom 250 in June, handing him the first loss of his career. Having already announced he will not fight again this year, Gaethje is taking his time enjoying the competitive landscape in the division while waiting for his first challenger to emerge next year.

Gaethje appeared recently on the podcast MightyCast, where he was asked about the key strategy he used against Topuria. "The easiest way to explain it is that his footwork rhythm never changes. When it's that consistent, it's very easy to predict," Gaethje said, adding that attacking this predictability was what earned him the win.

"Topuria always moves forward or backward with the same rhythm, like 'tuk, tuk, tuk, tuk.' He almost never moves side to side. That's his style of fighting," Gaethje said. "In the end, my game plan was to break that flow by timing my attacks to his footwork."

Topuria fights in a classic boxing style. Experts have long agreed that his style — powerful and technically refined — is difficult to attack, but it left an opening for Gaethje, who favors an unorthodox rhythm. Gaethje is known for regularly throwing kicks and punches off-beat and from a switch stance, even in ordinary fights.

Fighters of this type may look awkward and unbalanced at first glance, but they break through an opponent's guard with unpredictable attacks that land effective and decisive blows. Former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is a prime example of this style.

While Gaethje has taken a relaxed vacation, citing injury recovery and conditioning since claiming the belt, competition among contenders in the division has grown fiercer than ever.

The winner of the Sept. 20 bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 is likely to earn the next title shot. Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, both of whom have beaten Gaethje in the past, are also eyeing the spot. The emergence of Salahdine Parnasse, 28, of France, who dominated Dan Hooker, is another wild card that could shake up the picture.

UFC is also considering a rematch between Topuria, who has resumed official activities following his recent loss, and Gaethje, though Topuria's return to the octagon has yet to be scheduled. UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently advised that it would be risky for Topuria to rush back into the octagon just to secure a rematch with Gaethje.


yjc@heraldcorp.com