Ciryl Gane has invited kickboxer Artem Vakhitov into his training camp to prepare for his fight against Alex Pereira. Vakhitov is notable as the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, achieving the victory in 2021. Gane appears to be seeking specialized insight and sparring to counter Pereira's striking style. The inclusion of Vakhitov underscores Gane's strategic approach to the bout. No additional details on the training location or duration were disclosed.
Ciryl Gane has brought kickboxing world champion Artem Vakhitov into his training camp as he prepares to challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title.
Vakhitov carries a particular distinction that makes his involvement significant: he is the last man to defeat Pereira in kickboxing, handing the Brazilian that loss in 2021. The 35-year-old Russian, who fights out of the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation, stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach and carries a 3-1 MMA record. His striking numbers in MMA are striking in their own right — he lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute at an exceptional 85 percent accuracy, offering Gane a technically precise training partner with direct experience exploiting Pereira's vulnerabilities.
Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," enters the fight ranked second in the heavyweight division but is moving up to challenge Pereira at light heavyweight. The 36-year-old Frenchman from MMA Factory holds a 14-2 record and brings his own high-output striking game, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute with 61 percent accuracy. At six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, Gane also mixes in takedowns and submission attempts, averaging 0.68 takedowns and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Pereira, "Poatan," is the reigning light heavyweight champion at 38 years old. The Brazilian trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness, stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, and owns a 13-4 MMA record. He averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous stand-up fighters in the sport.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov is the last fighter on record to beat Pereira, giving Gane a rare firsthand resource on the champion's striking tendencies
- Gane's decision underscores a deliberate, study-driven approach to a striking-heavy matchup
- Both Pereira and Gane are orthodox, six-foot-four fighters with nearly identical heights, making reach and timing details from a knowledgeable sparring partner especially valuable
