Ciryl Gane has invited kickboxer Artem Vakhitov to join his training camp as he prepares to face Alex Pereira. Vakhitov holds the distinction of being the last person to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, having done so in 2021. The addition of Vakhitov to Gane's team represents a strategic move to gain insights from someone who has successfully beaten Pereira in striking competition. This preparation suggests Gane is focusing heavily on the striking aspect of his upcoming bout.
Ciryl Gane has brought Russian kickboxer Artem Vakhitov into his training camp as preparation intensifies for his upcoming fight against UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Vakhitov carries a singular credential that makes him a valuable addition to Gane's team: he is the last fighter to have beaten Pereira in a kickboxing bout, having done so in 2021. The 35-year-old, who trains with the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation in Russia, stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and posted a striking accuracy of 85 percent across his MMA record of 3-1-0. His ability to solve Pereira on the feet makes him a rare and targeted resource for any camp looking to dissect the champion's striking game.
Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," enters the matchup ranked second in the heavyweight division with a professional record of 14-2-0. The 36-year-old Frenchman 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, making him one of the more technically refined strikers in MMA. His decision to recruit Vakhitov signals a clear intent to sharpen his stand-up game and study Pereira's patterns from someone with firsthand experience beating him.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion with a record of 13-4-0. The Brazilian trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and brings 5.16 significant strikes per minute with 62 percent accuracy. At six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, he presents an imposing and aggressive striking profile that has overwhelmed most opponents inside the Octagon.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's 2021 kickboxing win over Pereira offers Gane's camp a blueprint built on direct experience
- Both Gane and Pereira are elite orthodox strikers with similar physical dimensions, making tactical preparation critical
- The camp addition underscores that Gane is prioritizing the striking dimension of this bout above all else
