Artem Vakhitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and is the last person to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Ulberg by dismissing complaints from a "stripper." Carlos Prates and his daughter had a face-off with Maddalena. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparation for his next fight. Hamzat Chimaev demonstrated maturity when asked about Sean Strickland's trash talk, comparing it to a clown at a circus and noting that Strickland acts differently in person. Colby Covington complained that the UFC shows no interest in promoting him.
Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and a current training partner of Ciryl Gane, made a bold claim in a recent interview, asserting that Pereira will suffer defeat because he has packed on too much muscle mass. Vakhitov's perspective carries some weight given his history with the UFC light heavyweight champion, and his current proximity to Gane's camp adds an extra layer of intrigue to the statement.
Elsewhere, Czech light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka fired back at Khalil Ulberg after the New Zealander leveled accusations at him, dismissing Ulberg's complaints with a sharp comparison to a "stripper." Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, carries a 32-6-1 record and lands an eye-catching 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the most dangerous strikers in the 205-pound class.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, confirmed publicly that he has begun preparations for his next fight. The 34-year-old Russian, fighting out of Eagles MMA, holds a 28-1-0 record and averages 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts, underlining his grappling dominance.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland found himself the subject of commentary from Hamzat Chimaev, who responded to Strickland's trash talk with notable composure. Chimaev compared the 35-year-old American to a clown at a circus, adding that Strickland behaves differently when the cameras are not rolling. Strickland, who carries a 31-7-0 record and lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute, has never been shy about stirring controversy.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's assessment of Pereira, coming from inside a rival camp, adds credibility and raises questions about the champion's physical evolution
- Prochazka's public spat with Ulberg keeps the light heavyweight division's contender picture unsettled
- Makhachev confirming fight preparations signals the welterweight title picture is about to sharpen
- Chimaev's measured response to Strickland contrasts sharply with the champion's typical approach, potentially shifting narrative momentum ahead of any future matchup
