Artem Vahitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and is the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose his upcoming fight because he has gained too much muscle mass. Meanwhile, Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Carlos Ulberg by dismissing complaints from "a stripper." Carlos Prates had a face-off with Jack Maddalena that included Prates' daughter, with Carlos explaining to her who the "bad guy" was. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparation for his next bout. Khamzat Chimaev responded philosophically to Sean Strickland's trash talk, comparing it to not getting angry at a clown in a circus and noting that Strickland's friends say he only talks for promotion.
Several storylines from the combat sports media circuit converged this week, with fighters and their camps sounding off on upcoming matchups, opponents, and each other.
Artem Vahitov, the kickboxing veteran who holds the distinction of being the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in a kickboxing contest, has weighed in on Pereira's UFC future. Vahitov, who is currently assisting Ciryl Gane with his preparation, argued in a recent interview that Pereira will lose his next fight as a consequence of adding too much muscle mass to his frame. Vahitov stopped short of naming specifics but was direct in his assessment that the added size would work against the champion.
Jiri Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, dismissed criticism from Carlos Ulberg in characteristically blunt fashion. The Czech fighter, who trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno, referred to Ulberg dismissively as "a stripper," declining to engage further with the complaints. Prochazka carries a 32-6-1 record and lands an imposing 5.69 significant strikes per minute.
Islam Makhachev, the welterweight champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world at 34, confirmed publicly that he has begun preparations for his next bout. The Russian has a 28-1 record and is one of the most efficient grapplers in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes with a 58 percent striking accuracy.
Khamzat Chimaev responded to trash talk from middleweight champion Sean Strickland with measured detachment, comparing engaging with Strickland to getting angry at a circus clown. Chimaev also noted that people close to Strickland acknowledge the American talks primarily for promotional purposes. Strickland, who holds a 31-7 record, is well known for his aggressive output of 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute and an orthodox stance built on constant forward pressure.
In a lighter moment, Carlos Prates brought his daughter to a face-off with Jack Maddalena, pausing to explain to her which corner of the confrontation represented the opposition.
