Artem Vakhitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and was 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 calling him a stripper and dismissing his claims. Carlos Prates and his daughter did a face-off with Maadalena, with Prates having to clarify to his daughter who the bad guy is. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparation for his next fight. Khamzat Chimaev showed maturity when asked about Sean Strickland's recent comments, comparing Strickland to a circus clown and noting that Strickland's friends told him he was just trying to promote the fight. Colby Covington complained that the UFC shows no interest in him, doesn't promote him, and doesn't book him for important events like the White House fight, while expressing interest in competing for RAF.
A flurry of fighter comments and media moments from around the MMA world has generated significant buzz heading into the final day of April 2026, with several big names weighing in on rivals, preparations, and promotional grievances.
Artem Vakhitov, the kickboxing veteran who holds the distinction of being the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in that sport, has gone on record predicting that Pereira will eventually lose inside the octagon. His reasoning centers on what he sees as excessive muscle gain by the current light heavyweight champion, arguing the added mass will work against Pereira in competition.
Jiri Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, fired back at Denmark's Carlston Harris Ulberg following accusations directed at the Czech fighter. Prochazka dismissed Ulberg's claims entirely and pointedly referred to him as a stripper, showing little patience for the criticism. Prochazka carries a 32-6-1 record and lands an imposing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Islam Makhachev, the welterweight champion and current pound-for-pound number one at 28-1-0, confirmed publicly that he has begun preparing for his next bout. The 34-year-old Russian averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes, making him one of the most well-rounded champions in the sport.
Khamzat Chimaev took a measured approach when asked about recent comments from middleweight champion Sean Strickland, comparing the 35-year-old American to a circus clown. Chimaev tempered that by noting Strickland's own associates suggested he was simply working to sell a potential fight.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's criticism of Pereira adds an informed outsider perspective, given his history with the champion in kickboxing
- Prochazka's public clash with Ulberg signals a potential light heavyweight rivalry gaining heat
- Makhachev confirming camp start narrows the window for speculation about his next title defense
- Covington's complaints about UFC promotional treatment and his stated interest in competing for RAF suggest his future with the promotion may be uncertain
