Artem Vakhitov, who is helping Ciryl Gane prepare and was the last man 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 of being fake from Ulgberg by dismissing him as a stripper. Carlos Prates and his daughter did a face-off with Maddalena, with Prates having to clarify to his daughter who the bad guy is. Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun training camp for his next fight. When asked about Sean Strickland's comments, Khamzat Chimaev showed surprising composure, comparing the situation to watching a clown at the circus and noting that Strickland's friends told him Sean admitted he's just promoting the fight.
Several storylines from the MMA world's media circuit are generating buzz this week, ranging from a pointed tactical critique of Alex Pereira to a composed response from Khamzat Chimaev and a lighthearted moment involving Carlos Prates and his daughter.
Artem Vakhitov, who holds a notable distinction as the last man to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and is now assisting Ciryl Gane in his fight preparation, recently offered a blunt assessment of the reigning light heavyweight champion. Vakhitov argued that Pereira has added too much muscle mass ahead of the Gane matchup and that this will cost him when they meet. The claim carries some weight given Vakhitov's firsthand experience competing against Pereira at the elite kickboxing level.
On the light heavyweight front, second-ranked contender Jiri Prochazka found himself in a minor war of words. The Czech fighter, who carries a 32-6-1 record and stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, was accused of being fake by someone named Ulgberg. Prochazka's response was characteristically blunt: he dismissed the individual as a stripper.
Islam Makhachev, the welterweight champion with a 28-1-0 record and a 58 percent striking accuracy, confirmed publicly that he has already begun his training camp ahead of his next bout. The Dagestan native offered no additional details, but the confirmation signals that his next assignment is close enough to warrant full preparation.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who holds a 31-7-0 record and lands over six significant strikes per minute, found himself the subject of comments addressed by Khamzat Chimaev. Rather than escalating, Chimaev responded with unusual calm, likening the experience of dealing with Strickland to watching a clown perform at a circus. Chimaev also noted that people close to Strickland told him Sean has privately admitted the commentary is simply fight promotion.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's muscle-mass critique of Pereira adds a credible tactical dimension to the Gane fight buildup, coming from someone who has beaten Pereira
- Makhachev's confirmed camp start keeps the welterweight title picture moving forward
- Chimaev's composed handling of Strickland's remarks shifts the pre-fight narrative dynamic between the two middleweights
