Artem Vakhitov, the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently helping Ciryl Gane prepare, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass for his heavyweight move. In other news, Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Volkan Oezdemir by dismissing complaints from "a stripper." Carlos Prates did a face-off with his daughter and Maddalena. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparation for his next fight. Khamzat Chimaev responded to trash talk from Sean Strickland with a measured statement comparing it to watching a clown at the circus, noting Strickland's friends told him Sean admits he's just promoting the fight. Colby Covington complained that the UFC shows no interest in promoting him and is considering moving to RAF for his final competitive years.
Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to beat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently working as a training partner for Ciryl Gane, has gone on record predicting that Pereira will suffer defeat in his move to heavyweight, arguing the Brazilian champion has packed on too much muscle mass to compete effectively at the division.
Vakhitov's comments add an unusual dimension to the heavyweight transition story, coming from someone with firsthand knowledge of Pereira's capabilities. His current role in Gane's camp gives his assessment added weight, though it remains one man's opinion rather than confirmed fact.
Elsewhere, number-two-ranked light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic took aim at ninth-ranked Swiss contender Volkan Oezdemir, dismissing recent accusations from "No Time" with a blunt reference to a stripper. The 33-year-old Prochazka, who carries a 32-6-1 record and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, showed little patience for the 36-year-old Oezdemir, who holds a 21-8 record in the division.
In the middleweight picture, champion Sean Strickland drew a response from Khamzat Chimaev after trading verbal shots. Chimaev offered a measured reply, comparing Strickland's trash talk to watching a clown perform, and noted that people close to Strickland have told him the American acknowledges he is simply promoting a potential fight. Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7 record and leads the UFC in significant strikes landed per minute at 6.04.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's critique of Pereira's physicality comes from a credible source with direct competitive history against him
- The Prochazka-Oezdemir exchange signals a potential rivalry brewing in a crowded light heavyweight top ten
- Chimaev's composed response to Strickland keeps middleweight chatter alive without escalating unnecessarily
- Colby Covington's public complaint about UFC promotional neglect and reported interest in Bare Knuckle fighting suggests his tenure with the promotion may be nearing its end
