TLDR
- Gaethje says Topuria’s predictable footwork pattern with no rhythm changes was the key flaw he exploited at UFC Freedom 250
- The champion accused Topuria of being unprepared and making mistakes during his 12-week training camp
- Gaethje will not fight again in 2026 due to a deep bone bruise in his knee and hand injuries
- The new champion has not spent any of his title-winning paycheck, showing improved financial discipline
- A rematch with Topuria or a fight against the Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy winner are potential options for his first title defense
Sources: yardbarker.com | yardbarker.com | mmasucka.com
Justin Gaethje has shared details about his upset victory over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, explaining the specific weakness he exploited to hand the Georgian fighter his first career loss. The new lightweight champion also announced he will not compete again in 2026 due to injuries.
Gaethje identified a predictable footwork pattern in Topuria’s fighting style as the key to his game plan. “His feet never change rhythms,” Gaethje explained during recent media appearances.
“He never changes rhythm with his feet. It’s always pop, pop, pop, pop, and it’s forwards or backwards,” Gaethje said. “He’s very rarely moving laterally, and that’s how he fights.”
The 37-year-old fighter stated his entire strategy centered on timing and interrupting Topuria’s footwork. “The game plan was to interrupt his feet, especially when it’s so constant,” Gaethje explained. “It’s very easy to predict, and I’ve never seen him alter from that.”
UFC Fighter Justin Gaethje at the Midterm Convention: "This is about supporting President Trump and sending him Republican allies in Congress to continue moving forward with his agenda… Let’s get one of the greatest Presidents in American history to finish his job." 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZCbWL2I7XR
— johnny maga (@johnnymaga) September 10, 2026
Champion Says Topuria Was Unprepared
Gaethje was more direct in his criticism during an appearance with former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson. He accused Topuria of making mistakes during his 12-week training camp before the fight.
“So he wasn’t prepared for what happened that night. And it’s his fault,” Gaethje said. “Because he didn’t think it was possible for someone to be there with him for that long, or whatever it was.”
The fight ended after four rounds when Topuria was declared medically unfit to continue. Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik has suggested a rematch is under serious consideration.
Gaethje’s first title defense could also come against the winner of Arman Tsarukyan versus Mauricio Ruffy. However, fans will have to wait longer than expected to see the champion back in action.
Injuries Force Extended Break
Gaethje confirmed he will not fight again for the rest of 2026 due to injuries sustained during his two bouts this year. “I have a deep bone bruise in my knee,” the champion revealed. “I can’t punch with my hands still. So, I really need to recover.”
The fighter acknowledged that his traditional “ready-anytime” mindset needs to change. He said he must treat UFC as a business and plan strategically for his physical health and career longevity.
Despite the injuries, Gaethje revealed his financial discipline has improved drastically since his early fighting days. He has not spent any money from his UFC Freedom 250 title-winning purse.
In 2013, Gaethje received his first televised fight paycheck of $10,000 from World Series of Fighting. The amount was actually $2,000 more than his contracted $8,000 due to a payment error.
He took his family to New York City to celebrate but faced a nightmare the next day. When he tried to withdraw cash, the bank froze his account over the payment discrepancy. “I had zero dollars in New York City until Monday morning,” Gaethje recalled.
The fighter said he thought he was “rich for life” but spent that entire paycheck within one month. He repeated this pattern multiple times early in his career, burning through money primarily on food rather than material goods.
“My last paycheck, I haven’t touched it,” Gaethje said of his UFC Freedom 250 earnings. The champion’s first title defense is expected later this year, though no specific date or opponent has been confirmed.
