Ciryl Gane has invited kickboxer Artem Vakhitov to join his training camp ahead of his fight with Alex Pereira. Vakhitov holds the distinction of being the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, with that victory occurring in 2021. Gane is preparing for a high-stakes bout and appears to be seeking every advantage by working with someone familiar with Pereira's striking style. The addition of Vakhitov to the camp signals Gane's strategic focus on countering Pereira's strengths. The fight is part of an upcoming event, though the exact date is not mentioned in the post.
Ciryl Gane has brought Russian kickboxing standout Artem Vakhitov into his training camp as he prepares to challenge UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.
Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," enters the bout ranked second in the 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 more technically refined strikers, averaging 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He also maintains a modest but real grappling presence, averaging 0.68 takedowns and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning Light Heavyweight champion out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness in Brazil. The Brazilian carries a 13-4-0 record and matches Gane almost identically in size at six-foot-four and a 79-inch reach, averaging 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. His knockout power has defined his UFC tenure across multiple divisions.
Vakhitov's inclusion in the camp is the story's sharpest detail. The 35-year-old Russian orthodox striker stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and holds a 3-1-0 MMA record while competing under the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation. Crucially, Vakhitov is the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, a victory that came in 2021, giving him firsthand knowledge of how Pereira's striking can be disrupted. Vakhitov's own numbers reflect elite-level precision, with a striking accuracy of 85 percent in MMA competition.
Why it matters
- Gane is tasking himself with solving one of the most dangerous strikers in UFC history, and Vakhitov represents a direct line to a blueprint that worked.
- Pereira has shown the ability to finish opponents quickly, making pre-camp strategic preparation critical for Gane.
- Both men share nearly identical physical dimensions, giving Vakhitov's sparring a realistic feel relative to the actual fight.
