Ciryl Gane has brought kickboxer Artem Vakhitov into his training camp to prepare for his upcoming bout against Alex Pereira. Vakhitov holds notable significance as the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, having beaten him in 2021. The strategic move suggests Gane is seeking expertise from someone with a proven blueprint against his opponent. Vakhitov's experience in defeating Pereira could provide valuable insights into the Brazilian's striking patterns and tendencies.
Ciryl Gane has enlisted kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov as a specialist training partner ahead of his upcoming fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, with the move signaling a deliberate, research-driven approach to cracking one of MMA's most dangerous strikers.
Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," enters the bout ranked second in the heavyweight division with a 14-2 record. The 36-year-old Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory, stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and is one of the sport's most technically refined strikers, averaging 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He also mixes in a modest grappling threat, averaging 0.68 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pereira, nicknamed "Poatan," is the reigning light heavyweight champion and at 38 years old remains one of the most feared combat sports athletes on the planet. The Brazilian carries a 13-4 MMA record and outputs a similar volume to Gane, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy.
Vakhitov brings something no current UFC fighter can offer: a victory over Pereira on the feet. The 35-year-old Russian, who fights out of the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation, holds a 3-1 MMA record but his value here is rooted in his kickboxing pedigree. He stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and posted a remarkable 85 percent striking accuracy in MMA competition. Vakhitov defeated Pereira in kickboxing in 2021, making him the last man to hand the champion a loss in combat sports.
Why it matters
- Pereira's last known striking loss came against Vakhitov, making him a uniquely qualified sparring and strategy resource
- Gane faces a size and style challenge moving down or across weight against one of the division's most powerful punchers
- Adding a specialist with a proven blueprint against Pereira reflects how seriously Gane's camp is approaching the matchup
