Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently helping Cyril Gane with training, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose his next fight because he has gained too much muscle mass. The post also includes several other brief news items: Jiri Prochazka responded to Carlos Ulberg's accusations by calling him a "stripper," Carlos Prates did a face-off with his daughter and Stephen Thompson, and Islam Makhachev confirmed starting his training camp. Additionally, Hamzat Chimaev reacted to Sean Strickland's comments by comparing him to a circus clown, while Colby Covington complained about UFC's lack of promotion for him. Details about the specific context or timing of Vakhitov's prediction are limited in the post.
Artem Vakhitov, the last man to beat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, has publicly predicted that Pereira will fall in his next fight, citing excessive muscle gain as the reason for his anticipated decline.
Vakhitov, who is currently assisting Cyril Gane with training, made the claim in a recent interview. He argued that Pereira has added too much muscle mass to his frame, a development he believes will work against the reigning light heavyweight champion. No further details about the specific timing or context of the interview were provided.
The news cycle also caught up with several other fighters. Jiri Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, fired back at Carlos Ulberg's recent accusations by calling him a "stripper." The Czech striker carries a 32-6-1 record and lands an impressive 5.69 significant strikes per minute.
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, 34, confirmed he has begun his training camp. The Russian finisher holds a 28-1-0 record and leads the pound-for-pound rankings, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 58 percent striking accuracy.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, 35, also drew attention after Hamzat Chimaev responded to his comments by comparing him to a circus clown. Strickland, who fights out of Xtreme Couture with a 31-7-0 record, averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach.
Elsewhere, Carlos Prates made headlines with a lighthearted face-off involving his daughter and Stephen Thompson, while Colby Covington publicly aired his frustration over what he described as insufficient promotional support from the UFC.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's credibility as Pereira's only kickboxing conqueror lends some weight to his criticism, even if the claim remains unverified by any medical or athletic assessment
- Prochazka and Ulberg's public exchange adds tension to the light heavyweight division already crowded with contenders
- Makhachev confirming a new training camp signals an active timeline for the welterweight title picture
