Justin Gaethje Posts Training Video Ahead of Topuria Clash

When it was announced that Ilia Topuria would defend his UFC lightweight title in the headliner of UFC Freedom 250 against Justin Gaethje, fans and media were immediately writing Gaethje's obituary.

It's no knock against Gaethje; he's one of the most well-respected fighters in the UFC. But the 37-year-old leaves everything in the cage each fight, with notable wars against Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Eddie Alvarez. Fans wonder how much he has left in the tank, and how much his chin can handle.

Not to mention he's also going up against what many perceive to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, Ilia Topuria.

But Gaethje wants to hear none of it.

Recently, his trainer posted a video of his strength and conditioning routine leading up to the fight. What's interesting is that it's not just a random collection of clips that you normally see, it breaks down what he does each day.

As a general rule, each workout you do, whether you're a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, should have a purpose. Random training equals random results. For Gaethje, each day has a specific goal in mind.

Monday is power and strength - Gaethje is seen throwing medicine balls at high velocity from a sit-up position, performing heavy Zercher squats, weighted pullups, floor presses, cable rotations, and isometric holds.

Wednesday is metabolic conditioning – featuring sled pushes, skiers on a SkiErg machine, fast-paced TRX rows, sport-specific fighting movements, and the rower.

So it appears Gaethje does strength and conditioning work twice per week during fight camp. This makes logistical sense as you don't want your gym work to overtake things like wrestling, pad work, and sparring.

Gaethje is not taking this opportunity lightly. A loss could be his last chance at the undisputed title. He has built his entire career on defying expectations and proving people wrong. He was an underdog in both fights against Rafael Fiziev, and won both. He was an underdog against Paddy Pimblett, and he won. If his training camp is any indication, he'll walk into the Topuria fight in the best shape possible, and will look to pull off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 3:32 PM.