Cyril Gane brings in Artem Vakhitov for UFC White House training camp

Cyril Gane has brought kickboxing standout Artem Vakhitov into his training camp as he prepares for UFC White House on June 14, 2026, in what appears to be a calculated move ahead of an anticipated showdown with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Vakhitov carries a 3-1-0 record in combat sports and brings a formidable striking pedigree to the camp. The 35-year-old Russian, who trains with the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation, stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and possesses an exceptional striking accuracy rate of 85 percent, landing 3.88 significant strikes per minute. His most significant credential in this context is a 2021 kickboxing victory over Pereira — making him the last fighter to hand the current champion a defeat on the feet.

Pereira, 38, holds a 13-4-0 record and currently reigns as UFC light heavyweight champion. The Brazilian, nicknamed Poatan, is a physically imposing presence at six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and generates 5.16 significant strikes per minute. He trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and has built his UFC career on explosive, high-volume striking output.

Why it matters

• Vakhitov's firsthand experience against Pereira offers Gane's team rare insight into the champion's striking habits and timing
• Bringing in a fighter who defeated Pereira in kickboxing suggests Gane's camp is prioritizing stand-up preparation above all else
• The addition signals that a Gane versus Pereira matchup at UFC White House is the working assumption inside the camp, though no official booking has been confirmed
• The specific duration and scope of Vakhitov's involvement in the camp were not disclosed