Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently helping Ciryl Gane prepare, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose his next fight because he has gained too much muscle mass. The post also mentions that Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Karl Ulberg by saying he doesn't want to hear complaints about being "fake" from a stripper. Additionally, Carlos Prates and his daughter had a face-off with Jack Della Maddalena, with Prates having to clarify to his daughter who the bad guy was. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun preparation for his next bout.
Artem Vakhitov, the last man to hand Alex Pereira a kickboxing defeat, has gone on record predicting that Pereira will lose his next fight as a direct result of adding too much muscle mass to his frame.
Vakhitov, 35, carries a 3-1-0 MMA record and represents the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation out of Russia. Standing six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach, he is currently working as a training partner helping Ciryl Gane prepare for an upcoming bout. His striking accuracy of 85 percent underlines the elite-level standup credentials that made him a credible threat to Pereira in their kickboxing encounter.
In a separate development, Czech light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka fired back at Karl Ulberg after Ulberg publicly accused him of being fake. The number-two ranked light heavyweight, who holds a 32-6-1 record and is 33 years old, told Ulberg bluntly that he has no interest in hearing complaints about authenticity from a stripper. Prochazka lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy and carries an 80-inch reach, making him one of the division's most dangerous offensive forces.
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, ranked pound-for-pound number one with a 28-1-0 record, confirmed he has begun camp for his next fight. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes, reinforcing his status as the division's dominant force at 170 pounds.
Finally, Carlos Prates and his daughter crossed paths with Jack Della Maddalena at a public appearance, producing an unscripted face-off. Prates was left having to explain to his daughter which man in front of her was the opponent.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's unique firsthand experience against Pereira lends weight to his physical conditioning critique
- Prochazka's public spat with Ulberg raises the temperature in a crowded light heavyweight division
- Makhachev confirming camp has started signals a welterweight title defense is drawing closer
