Artem Vakhitov, the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently assisting Ciryl Gane in training, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Alistair Overeem by dismissing complaints from "a stripper." Carlos Prates did a face-off with Jack Della Maddalena alongside his daughter, clarifying to her who the "bad guy" was. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparing for his next fight. Khamzat Chimaev addressed comments from Sean Strickland, saying he finds them amusing rather than angering, noting Strickland's friends told him he's just promoting the fight and explaining he dislikes fake people. Colby Covington complained that the UFC shows no interest in promoting him or featuring him at major events like a White House fight card, stating he still wants to compete but is ready to dedicate his remaining years to appearances in the RAF organization.
Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to hand Alex Pereira a kickboxing defeat, has gone on record predicting the UFC light heavyweight champion will eventually lose inside the octagon — and he blames excessive muscle gain as the primary reason why.
Vakhitov, who is currently working as a training partner and assistant in Ciryl Gane's camp, made the remarks in a recent interview. He argued that Pereira has added too much muscle mass, which he believes will ultimately work against the Brazilian champion.
Elsewhere in a busy week of fighter media, light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka dismissed pointed remarks from Alistair Overeem by referring to his critic as "a stripper," brushing off the accusations without further elaboration. Prochazka, who carries a 32-6-1 record and sits ranked second in the light heavyweight division, is known for one of the sport's most aggressive striking outputs, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his UFC career. The 33-year-old Czech fighter operates out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and possesses a reach of 80 inches.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who holds a 31-7-0 record, also found himself in the headlines after Khamzat Chimaev addressed comments the 35-year-old American had directed at him. Chimaev said he finds Strickland's remarks more amusing than angering, noting that mutual acquaintances informed him Strickland is simply working to promote a potential fight. Chimaev added that he has little patience for people he considers fake.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1-0 record and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the database, confirmed he has begun preparations for his next fight. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands submissions at a rate of 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's credibility as Pereira's last kickboxing conqueror gives his physical critique unusual weight in light heavyweight circles
- Prochazka's public spat with Overeem adds noise around the crowded 205-pound division he is positioned to challenge in
- Makhachev confirming fight preparations signals the welterweight title picture is beginning to take shape
- Chimaev downplaying Strickland's comments could reflect early maneuvering toward a future middleweight title clash
