Artem Vakhitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and was the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, claims Pereira will lose because he has gained too much muscle mass. Jiri Prochazka fired back at criticism from Ulgberg, dismissing complaints from a "stripper." Carlos Prates had a face-off with his daughter and Madalena. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun preparation for his next fight. Hamzat Chimaev responded to Sean Strickland's comments with surprising composure, comparing Strickland to a circus clown and noting that when approached by Chimaev's friends, Strickland claimed he was just promoting a fight.
Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to hand Alex Pereira a kickboxing defeat, has weighed in on the UFC light heavyweight champion's future, predicting Pereira will lose inside the Octagon because he has added too much muscle mass to his frame.
Vakhitov made the comments while working as part of Ciryl Gane's preparation camp, giving them added weight given his direct professional history with Pereira. The Russian kickboxing star's prediction centers on the idea that Pereira's physical transformation has compromised his ability to perform at the highest level.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, number-two ranked light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka pushed back against criticism from Ulgberg with characteristic bluntness, dismissing his detractor as a "stripper" and showing little concern for the remarks. The Czech fighter, who carries a 32-6-1 record and stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, averages 5.69 significant strikes per minute and remains one of the division's most dangerous offensive threats.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who holds a 31-7-0 record, found himself on the receiving end of a measured response from Hamzat Chimaev. Rather than matching Strickland's confrontational energy, Chimaev compared the American to a circus clown and claimed that when approached by Chimaev's associates in person, Strickland acknowledged he was simply working an angle to promote a fight.
Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, 34, confirmed he has already begun preparations for his next outing. The Russian, now competing at welterweight according to the verified data, owns a 28-1-0 record and is ranked pound-for-pound number one. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most efficient fighters on the roster.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's prediction carries credibility given he is the last man to defeat Pereira in competition
- Prochazka remains the division's top contender and any public disputes could influence future matchmaking at 205 pounds
- Makhachev confirming camp has begun signals his next title defense could be formally announced soon
