Gaethje's coach reveals jab-first game plan that ended Topuria's unbeaten run at UFC White House

Justin Gaethje arrived at the White House as the UFC’s biggest underdog and departed as lightweight champion, ending Ilia Topuria’s undefeated record and collecting two post-fight bonuses in the process. Now, his ground coach Jorge Santiago has offered a rare behind-the-scenes account of how it all came together.

Santiago, a black belt under Ricardo Libório and a former champion in Sengoku and Strikeforce, spoke publicly about the camp and the event itself, describing the experience of competing at the political heart of the United States as unlike anything he had witnessed in his career.

“It was a unique experience. There will never be a show like this,” Santiago said. “I never imagined seeing the political capital of the USA closed to our sport. Everything was approved by the Secret Service. We would pass through a gate and there was an FBI clearance; when we got in the car we couldn’t talk to the agents or we would have to go back and do it all again. When we arrived at the White House, I simply couldn’t believe it. I just kept thinking that our sport had managed to reach places we never imagined.”

On the tactical side, Santiago revealed that disrupting Topuria with the jab was central to the game plan from the very start of camp. He also credited head coach Trevor Wittman as the driving force behind Gaethje’s development.

“Trevor Wittman is a brilliant guy,” Santiago said. “Having gone through ATT and Blackzilians, I’ve trained with some of the greatest coaches this sport has ever seen, and this guy is really very special. He takes something positive from every training session and makes the student shine.”

Santiago singled out the brabo choke Gaethje locked onto Topuria as a technique that had been drilled extensively in the build-up. “That choke he locked in on Topuria, he was landing on everyone in training,” he said, adding that Gaethje had grown considerably as a ground fighter through their work together, which began during Gaethje’s time alongside Kamaru Usman.

As for what comes next, Santiago suggested Gaethje — who had reportedly planned to retire after a potential win over Paddy Pimblett — is now likely to make at least one title defence before stepping away.

“His plan was to retire after the victory over Paddy Pimblett, but now after this historic achievement, I think he’ll take a break and come back in a fight that makes a lot of sense for him,” Santiago said. “I don’t know if it will be against the winner of Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway, a rematch with Charles Oliveira for the unification of the BMF and lightweight titles, or a rematch with Topuria himself, but it will certainly have to be something very big.”