Artem Vakhitov, who was the last person to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing and is currently helping Ciryl Gane prepare, stated in a recent interview that Pereira will lose his upcoming fight because he has gained too much muscle mass. The post also includes several other MMA news items: Jiri Prochazka responded to criticism from Carlos Ulberg by calling him a stripper, Carlos Prates did a face-off with his daughter and Madalena, Islam Makhachev confirmed he has started preparing for his next fight, and Khamzat Chimaev responded to Sean Strickland's comments by comparing him to a circus clown.
Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to hand Alex Pereira a kickboxing defeat and a current training partner of Ciryl Gane, has gone on record predicting that Pereira will fall in his next bout — pointing to the UFC light heavyweight champion's increasing muscle mass as the reason.
Vakhitov made the remarks in a recent interview, arguing that Pereira has added too much muscle to his frame and that the added bulk will ultimately cost him in the fight. The Russian kickboxer's credibility on the subject is hard to dismiss given his history with the Brazilian knockout artist, and the comments carry extra weight given his current role in Gane's camp.
The Vakhitov prediction was not the only storyline generating attention in the sport this week. Czech light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka, ranked second in the division at 33 years old and carrying a 32-6-1 record, fired back at Carlos Ulberg's recent criticism by publicly labeling him a stripper. Prochazka, who stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute, rarely stays quiet when challenged.
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, 34, confirmed he has begun preparations for his next title defense. The Russian southpaw holds a 28-1-0 record and leads the pound-for-pound rankings, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that underline why the division revolves around him.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland, meanwhile, drew a response from Khamzat Chimaev after making public comments about the Chechen contender. Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute for Xtreme Couture. Chimaev's reply was characteristically blunt, comparing "Tarzan" to a circus clown.
Why it matters
- Vakhitov's unique history with Pereira gives his physical critique unusual authority ahead of the light heavyweight title picture
- Prochazka's public shot at Ulberg sharpens the rivalry at the top of the 205-pound division
- Makhachev confirming camp has begun signals movement in a welterweight landscape still settling after his division move
