Artem Vakhitov, who is the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and is currently helping Ciryl Gane prepare, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. In other news, Jiri Prohazka responded to accusations from Johnny Ulgberg by calling him a stripper. Carlos Prates did a face-off with his daughter against Jack Della Maddalena. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparation for his next fight. Khamzat Chimaev commented on Sean Strickland's trash talk, comparing it to a circus clown and noting that when approached by friends, Strickland backed down saying he was just promoting the fight. Colby Covington complained that the UFC shows no interest in him and is considering giving his final years to competing in RAF instead.
Russian kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov has gone on record predicting that Alex Pereira will suffer a defeat in MMA, citing what he describes as excessive muscle mass gain as the primary reason for his anticipated downfall.
Vakhitov, 35, holds a notable distinction as the last fighter to beat Pereira in kickboxing competition, giving his opinion particular weight in combat sports circles. The Russian, who stands six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach, currently carries a 3-1-0 MMA record and is competing under the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation banner. He is presently working as a training partner helping Ciryl Gane prepare for an upcoming bout. In a recent interview, Vakhitov argued that Pereira's continued physical transformation has worked against him rather than for him.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, Islam Makhachev — the reigning welterweight champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world — confirmed he has begun preparations for his next fight. The 34-year-old Russian holds a 28-1-0 record and is widely regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy rate.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, 35, found himself in another headline after Khamzat Chimaev responded to his trash talk by comparing him to a circus clown. Chimaev also alleged that Strickland backed away from a confrontation when approached in person by friends, claiming the champion admitted he was simply promoting a fight. Strickland carries a 31-7-0 record and is known for a high-output striking style, averaging over six significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's critique of Pereira carries credibility given he is the last man to beat him in kickboxing
- Makhachev signaling the start of a training camp suggests a title defense announcement may be approaching
- The Chimaev-Strickland war of words keeps the middleweight division in the spotlight despite no fight being formally booked
