Artem Vakhitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and is the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, has predicted that Pereira will lose his next fight because he has gained too much muscle mass. Vakhitov believes the added weight will negatively impact Pereira's performance. Meanwhile, Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Alexander Ulberg, calling him a stripper and dismissing his claims. Islam Makhachev also confirmed he has started camp for his next bout. The post includes various other fighter comments but focuses primarily on these training and prediction updates.
Russian kickboxing veteran Artem Vakhitov has publicly predicted that Alex Pereira will lose his next UFC fight, arguing that excessive muscle gain has compromised the light heavyweight champion's effectiveness.
Vakhitov, who holds the distinction of being the last fighter to defeat Pereira in kickboxing competition, made the comments while working as part of Ciryl Gane's training camp. The 35-year-old Russian, who carries an 85 percent striking accuracy rate in MMA, believes the added bulk will slow Pereira down and ultimately cost him. Vakhitov holds a 3-1-0 MMA record and competes under the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation banner. At six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach, he is a sizable striker himself, giving some credibility to his physical assessment of another combat sports athlete.
Elsewhere in the light heavyweight division, Jiri Prochazka fired back at Alexander Ulberg following accusations from the Norwegian contender, reportedly calling him a stripper and dismissing his claims outright. Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight and holding a 32-6-1 record, is known as much for his combative personality outside the cage as his aggressive style inside it. The 33-year-old Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy and stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach.
On the welterweight side, pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun preparation for his next bout. The 34-year-old Russian champion carries a 28-1-0 record and anchors the Eagles MMA team. A dominant grappler who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts in the same span, Makhachev remains the most complete fighter in the sport by most measures.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's unique history with Pereira lends his physical critique rare firsthand weight
- Prochazka's public spat with Ulberg could accelerate a matchmaking conversation at 205 pounds
- Makhachev confirming camp suggests a welterweight title defense is drawing closer
