Artem Vakhitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare for his fight, has stated in a recent interview that Alex Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. Vakhitov is the last person to have defeated Pereira in kickboxing and believes the additional weight will negatively impact Pereira's performance. Meanwhile, Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Alex Ulberg by dismissing them and calling Ulberg a stripper. Islam Makhachev also confirmed he has started preparation for his next fight. Khamzat Chimaev commented on Sean Strickland's trash talk, saying he finds it amusing rather than angering because Strickland admits privately he is just promoting fights.
Artem Vakhitov went on record this week to predict that Alex Pereira will fall short in his upcoming fight, citing what he describes as excessive muscle gain as the reason for his forecast. Vakhitov, who is currently part of Ciryl Gane's training camp, holds a unique perspective on Pereira — he is the last fighter to have beaten him in kickboxing, giving his words a layer of credibility that goes beyond casual commentary. In the interview, Vakhitov argued that the added mass will work against Pereira rather than for him.
Also generating headlines is Jiri Prochazka, the second-ranked light heavyweight in the UFC. The Czech fighter, who carries a 32-6-1 record and stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, responded to recent accusations from Alex Ulberg by brushing them off entirely and labeling Ulberg a stripper. Prochazka, 33, is one of the division's most aggressive output fighters, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland also featured in the news cycle. The 35-year-old American, who holds a 31-7-0 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture, weighed in on Khamzat Chimaev's reaction to his trash talk. Chimaev reportedly said he finds Strickland's provocations more amusing than irritating, claiming Strickland has privately admitted the rhetoric is purely promotional. Strickland lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach.
Rounding out the week's news, welterweight champion Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun preparations for his next fight. The 34-year-old Russian, who fights out of Eagles MMA with a 28-1-0 record, is among the sport's premier grapplers, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's critique of Pereira carries weight given his status as Pereira's last kickboxing conqueror and his insider role in Gane's camp
- Prochazka's public spat with Ulberg adds friction to the light heavyweight division's already crowded picture
- Makhachev confirming camp activity signals the welterweight title picture is beginning to take shape
