Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently helping Ciryl Gane prepare, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose his next fight because he has gained too much muscle mass. Meanwhile, Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Alexander Ulberg by dismissing complaints from "a stripper." In lighter news, Carlos Prates conducted a face-off with his daughter present, having to explain to her who the "bad guy" was. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun preparation for his next bout. Hamzat Chimaev responded philosophically to Sean Strickland's recent comments, comparing the situation to not being angry at a clown in a circus and noting that Strickland's friends told him Sean admitted he's just promoting a fight.
Artem Vakhitov, the last man to hand Alex Pereira a kickboxing defeat, has gone on record predicting that the current UFC light heavyweight champion will lose his next fight as a result of carrying too much muscle mass. Vakhitov, who is currently working as a training partner helping Ciryl Gane prepare, made the remarks in a recent interview, suggesting the physical transformation Pereira has undergone will ultimately work against him.
Elsewhere in the light heavyweight division, number-two ranked contender Jiri Prochazka had a pointed response to recent accusations from Alexander Ulberg. The 33-year-old Czech fighter, who carries a 32-6-1 record and trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno, dismissed Ulberg's complaints by referring to him as "a stripper." Prochazka, standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, is one of the more explosive strikers in the division, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
In the middleweight ranks, Hamzat Chimaev offered a measured reply to comments made by champion Sean Strickland, comparing the situation to being unable to stay angry at a circus clown. Chimaev also noted that people close to Strickland suggested the American acknowledged he was simply promoting a fight. Strickland, who holds a 31-7-0 record and carries a 76-inch reach, averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute and remains the reigning middleweight titleholder at 35 years old.
Meanwhile, welterweight champion Islam Makhachev confirmed he has already begun preparation for his next bout. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 28-1-0 record and is ranked number one pound-for-pound. Makhachev averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands submissions at a rate of 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes, making him among the most complete fighters in the sport.
On a lighter note, Carlos Prates brought his daughter to a recent face-off and found himself in the position of having to explain to her which corner represented the opposition.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's comments add outside scrutiny to Pereira's physical condition ahead of his next title defense
- Prochazka's verbal clash with Ulberg signals rising tension in a crowded light heavyweight contender pool
- Makhachev's confirmation that camp has begun suggests his next welterweight title fight is advancing toward finalization
