Ciryl Gane has invited kickboxer Artem Vakhitov to join his training camp in preparation for his fight against Alex Pereira. Vakhitov is notable as the last person to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, achieving that victory in 2021. Gane appears to be leveraging Vakhitov's experience and knowledge of Pereira's style to gain an edge. This strategic preparation demonstrates Gane's serious approach to the upcoming challenge. The specific training methods or duration of Vakhitov's involvement were not detailed in the announcement.
Ciryl Gane has brought Russian kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov into his training camp as he prepares to face UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
The move is a calculated one. Vakhitov holds a significant distinction: he is the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, doing so in 2021. By pulling Vakhitov into camp, Gane's team is tapping directly into firsthand knowledge of how Pereira operates on the feet, where the Brazilian champion is at his most dangerous.
Gane, known by his nickname "Bon Gamin," enters the fight 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 lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He also adds a modest ground dimension, averaging 0.68 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion carrying a 13-4 record. The Brazilian stands equally tall at six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and outputs 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. His striking has proven elite at every level of combat sports.
Vakhitov himself is a 35-year-old orthodox striker out of Russia's Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation. Standing six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach, he carries a 3-1 kickboxing record and posts a remarkable 85 percent striking accuracy, landing 3.88 significant strikes per minute. His experience against Pereira makes him a uniquely valuable resource.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov is the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, giving Gane's camp rare, direct insight into the champion's tendencies and vulnerabilities
- Both Gane and Pereira are high-output orthodox strikers of nearly identical height, making stand-up positioning and range management central to the matchup
- Gane's ability to mix striking with takedowns gives him a stylistic dimension Pereira rarely faces from elite opponents
