Ciryl Gane has recruited kickboxer Artem Vakhitov to his training camp in preparation for his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC White House. Vakhitov is notable for being the last person to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, achieving that victory in 2021. The addition of Vakhitov to Gane's camp suggests a strategic effort to gain insights into Pereira's striking style. This preparation highlights Gane's methodical approach to facing the current champion. The collaboration between Gane and Vakhitov could provide valuable tactical advantages heading into the title fight.
Ciryl Gane has added Russian kickboxing standout Artem Vakhitov to his training camp as he prepares to challenge light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at UFC White House on June 14, 2026. The move carries a clear strategic rationale: Vakhitov is the last fighter to hand Pereira a defeat in kickboxing, doing so in 2021.
Gane, known by his nickname "Bon Gamin," enters the fight ranked second in the light heavyweight division with a professional MMA record of 14-2-0. 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 precise strikers, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute. His well-rounded game also includes a takedown and submission threat, averaging 0.68 takedowns and 0.60 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Vakhitov, 35, brings a wealth of elite striking experience to the camp. The Russian, who represents the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation, carries a 3-1-0 MMA record and stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach. His striking accuracy of 85 percent in MMA competition underlines the technical sharpness that made him a credible threat to Pereira on the kickboxing circuit.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion out of Brazil's Teixeira MMA and Fitness. "Poatan" holds a 13-4-0 record and shares Gane's six-foot-four frame, though with a slightly shorter 79-inch reach. The champion averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous knockout artists in the sport.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's firsthand experience against Pereira gives Gane's camp a rare inside look at the champion's striking patterns and tendencies.
- A Gane victory would reshape the light heavyweight landscape, as the number-two contender unseating one of the division's most dominant recent champions.
- The stylistic matchup pits two high-output orthodox strikers against each other, making Vakhitov's specific insights into Pereira's timing and rhythm potentially decisive in camp preparation.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
