Ciryl Gane has brought kickboxer Artem Vakhitov into his training camp ahead of UFC White House. Vakhitov is notable as the last person to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, having beaten him in 2021. Gane is preparing to face Pereira and clearly sees value in training with someone familiar with his opponent's style. This strategic move could give Gane insights into Pereira's weaknesses. The collaboration highlights the crossover between kickboxing and MMA at the highest level.
Ciryl Gane has added Russian kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov to his training camp as he prepares to face UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira at UFC White House on June 14, 2026. The strategic recruitment centers on a singular credential: 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 camp ranked second in the UFC 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 more technically refined strikers in the sport, averaging 5.29 significant strikes landed per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He also mixes in a takedown threat, averaging 0.68 takedowns 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 averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. At six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, "Poatan" brings elite-level kickboxing credentials into every fight, making Vakhitov's firsthand experience against him a potentially valuable resource for Gane's camp.
Vakhitov himself holds a 3-1-0 MMA record and competes for the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation out of Russia. The 35-year-old orthodox striker stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and posts a striking accuracy of 85 percent in his MMA appearances, underlining the technical precision that made him a dangerous opponent for Pereira on the kickboxing circuit.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov has direct competitive experience against Pereira, offering Gane a living study partner with unique insight into the champion's tendencies
- Both Gane and Pereira are high-volume orthodox strikers of identical height, making the stylistic matchup almost entirely a stand-up chess match
- A win would move Gane from the number-two heavyweight ranking into light heavyweight title contention, a rare cross-divisional stakes scenario
Sunday, June 14, 2026
