Artem Vakhitov, the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and currently helping Ciryl Gane prepare, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. Vakhitov is working with Gane in his training camp. Meanwhile, Jiri Prochazka responded to accusations from Ulberg by dismissing complaints of being fake, saying he doesn't listen to pretensions from a stripper. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparation for his next fight. These comments add context to upcoming heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions.
Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to hand Alex Pereira a kickboxing defeat, has publicly predicted that Pereira will fall to Ciryl Gane — pointing to what he sees as excessive muscle gain as the reason. Vakhitov made the comments in a recent interview while revealing he is working alongside Gane in his training camp ahead of the matchup.
Vakhitov, 35, carries a 3-1-0 MMA record and competes out of the Kuzbass Muay Thai Federation in Russia. Standing six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach, he brings a striking-heavy background with an 85 percent striking accuracy in MMA competition — a figure that underscores why his opinion on a fellow striker carries weight. His history with Pereira in kickboxing gives him a firsthand read on how the champion moves and functions physically.
In a separate storyline touching the light heavyweight division, number-two ranked Jiri Prochazka pushed back against accusations from Carlos Ulberg. The Czech fighter, 33, dismissed Ulberg's complaints as coming from "a stripper" — making clear he has little interest in entertaining the criticism. Prochazka holds a 32-6-1 record and fights out of Jetsaam Gym Brno. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, he lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the most aggressive output fighters in the division.
Also in the news, welterweight champion Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun preparations for his next fight. The 34-year-old Russian holds a 28-1-0 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 58 percent clip, blending elite grappling with sharp stand-up.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's insider access to Gane's camp makes his Pereira assessment more than casual commentary
- Prochazka and Ulberg's public back-and-forth raises the temperature in a crowded light heavyweight division
- Makhachev beginning camp signals the welterweight title picture is about to sharpen
