Ciryl Gane has brought in kickboxer Artem Vakhitov to help prepare for his upcoming bout against Alex Pereira. Vakhitov holds notable significance as he was the last person to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, achieving that victory in 2021. The addition of Vakhitov to Gane's camp suggests a strategic approach to studying Pereira's weaknesses. This training collaboration could provide Gane with valuable insights into the techniques and strategies that previously troubled the former kickboxing champion.
Ciryl Gane has brought kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov into his training camp as he prepares to face UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, with the Russian fighter holding a particularly meaningful distinction — he is the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, doing so in 2021.
Gane, nicknamed "Bon Gamin," enters the fight ranked second in the heavyweight division with a professional MMA record of 14 wins and 2 losses. The 36-year-old Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory, stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and is among the most technically refined strikers in the heavyweight division, averaging 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He also mixes in takedowns and submission attempts, averaging 0.68 takedowns and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Pereira, 38, holds a 13-4 MMA record and is the reigning light heavyweight champion. The Brazilian, known as "Poatan," trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and also stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach. He averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous knockout artists in the sport.
Vakhitov, 35, is an orthodox-stance fighter out of the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation in Russia. He carries an impressive 85 percent striking accuracy in MMA, and his first-hand experience against Pereira in kickboxing gives him a level of insight into the champion's tendencies that few could offer.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's 2021 kickboxing victory over Pereira makes him a uniquely valuable sparring and strategy resource for Gane's camp
- Pereira built his combat reputation in kickboxing before transitioning to MMA, so that striking background remains central to how he operates
- The camp addition signals Gane is treating the stylistic matchup with considerable seriousness, focusing on the specific striking patterns that have given Pereira trouble before
