Ciryl Gane has brought kickboxer Artem Vakhitov into his training camp as he prepares to face Alex Pereira. Vakhitov holds historical significance as the last person to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, having beaten him in 2021. The addition of Vakhitov to Gane's camp suggests a strategic approach focused on exploiting Pereira's striking weaknesses. This training partnership could provide Gane with valuable insights into Pereira's tendencies and vulnerabilities. The post does not specify when or where the Gane-Pereira fight will take place.
Ciryl Gane has added kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov to his training camp as he prepares for a shot at Alex Pereira's light heavyweight title, with the French contender leaning on a fighter who holds a unique distinction in Pereira's combat sports history.
Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," enters the camp ranked second in the light heavyweight division with a professional MMA record of 14-2-0. The 36-year-old Frenchman out of MMA Factory stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and has built his reputation as one of the most technically refined strikers in the heavyweight ranks, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He also mixes in takedowns and submission threats, averaging 0.68 takedowns and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion and carries a 13-4-0 record. The Brazilian, also six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, is one of the most dangerous knockout artists in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute. His striking credentials in combat sports are well established, yet it is his kickboxing record that makes Vakhitov's presence in Gane's camp so notable.
Vakhitov, a 35-year-old Russian fighting out of the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation, was the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, doing so in 2021. The 185-centimeter orthodox striker carries an MMA record of 3-1-0 and posts a remarkable 85 percent striking accuracy, landing 3.88 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov has firsthand knowledge of Pereira's striking tendencies and potential vulnerabilities from their 2021 kickboxing contest
- Gane is ranked second in the division and a win would deliver the light heavyweight title to France for the first time
- Both Pereira and Gane are orthodox strikers of identical height, making Vakhitov's technical insights on range and timing particularly relevant
