Artem Vakhitov, the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently helping Ciryl Gane prepare, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. Meanwhile, Jiří Procházka responded to accusations from Alexander Ullberg, dismissing complaints from "a stripper." Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started training camp for his next fight. Hamzat Chimaev commented on Sean Strickland's recent trash talk, saying he finds it amusing rather than angering because Strickland's friends told him Sean admitted he is just promoting the fight and is fake. Colby Covington expressed frustration that UFC shows no interest in him, does not promote him, and did not include him in major events like the White House fight card, though he remains willing to compete or potentially join RAF for his final competitive years.
Artem Vakhitov, the only man to have defeated Alex Pereira in kickboxing, has predicted that Pereira will lose his next fight — and he is pointing to Pereira's physical transformation as the primary reason.
Vakhitov, now 35 and working as a training partner for Ciryl Gane ahead of that bout, argued in a recent interview that Pereira has added too much muscle mass, which he believes will work against the champion. Given his unique firsthand experience against Pereira, the Russian's assessment carries a particular weight. Vakhitov holds a 3-1-0 MMA record and brings a striking-heavy style, posting a striking accuracy of 85 percent with zero takedowns in his professional career. He trains out of the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation and stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun training camp for his next fight. The reigning welterweight champion and pound-for-pound leader holds a 28-1-0 record and trains out of Eagles MMA. The 34-year-old Russian is one of the sport's most complete fighters, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland found himself the subject of comments from Hamzat Chimaev, who said he finds Strickland's recent trash talk more amusing than irritating. Chimaev added that Strickland's own friends reportedly admitted he is simply promoting the fight rather than expressing genuine animosity. Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record, trains at Xtreme Couture, and is known for his relentless output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's dual role as Pereira's past conqueror and Gane's current sparring partner makes his physical critique unusually credible
- Makhachev opening camp signals the welterweight title picture is beginning to take shape
- Chimaev's comments suggest the Strickland rivalry may be moving toward an official booking
- Colby Covington's public frustration over UFC's lack of promotion and his exclusion from marquee cards raises questions about his standing on the roster
