Coach gives behind-the-scenes glimpse of Justin Gaethje’s championship victory

Justin Gaethje stunned the combat sports world by defeating undefeated Ilia Topuria to claim the UFC lightweight championship at UFC White House, ending the Georgian-Spaniard's perfect record and collecting two performance bonuses in the process. The victory marked a career-defining moment for the American, who entered as a significant underdog.

Gaethje's ground coach, Jorge Santiago, provided insight into the meticulous preparation behind the upset. Speaking with Sherdog.com, Santiago detailed how the game plan centered on using jabs to control distance and disrupt Topuria's aggressive, pocket-fighting style. "We knew that Topuria was going to move forward trying to fight in the pocket as always," Santiago explained. "This work of controlling the distance with jabs was brilliant because it opened up Topuria in the first round. The idea was to use jabs before he felt comfortable in the pocket, then look for the clinch and angled using uppercuts."

Santiago praised head coach Trevor Wittman's approach and credited the team's preparation on the ground, noting that Gaethje had executed the brabo choke he locked in on Topuria repeatedly during training sessions. The Brazilian coach, a Ricardo Libório black belt with experience at elite gyms like Alliance Training Center and Blackzilians, emphasized Gaethje's evolution through his work with Kamaru Usman.

Looking ahead, Santiago believes Gaethje will defend his belt before considering retirement, despite having previously planned to hang up his gloves after facing Paddy Pimblett. Potential next opponents include the winner of a Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway matchup, a unification bout with Charles Oliveira, or a rematch with Topuria—any fight substantial enough to match Gaethje's historic achievement.