Former kickboxing foe: Alex Pereira’s heavyweight move 'a mistake'

Artem Vakhitov doesn’t think Alex Pereira is naturally built for heavyweight. 

Pereria is scheduled to fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House on June 14. Vakhitov, the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, recently trained with Gane. While Vakhitov was previously skeptical about Gane, he has now changed his mind about “Bon Gamin.” Vakhitov is impressed with Gane’s overall skillset and favors the Frenchman to beat “Poatan.”

“Before I came to train with Ciryl Gane, I was a little suspicious regarding his style, his preparations,” Vakhitov told Standmeup. “But when I went there, I really felt that the guy is totally on a different level. When I saw his team, how he was preparing, how he did everything well, his timing, feeling the distance, stamina, his striking, he has everything. Now he has to work on his psychological and mental things. Now I’ve changed my mind, I think it’s 70-30, he really can get it.” 

Heavier Isn’t Better

Pereira (13-3) won the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight titles before moving up to heavyweight. The Brazilian is currently looking bulkier than ever, though not necessarily in an impressive way. Vakhitov believes Pereira’s heavyweight move is a mistake as he is not a natural for the weight class, unlike Gane. Vakhitov believes that if Pereira is gaining weight to help him wrestle, it is going to be a disadvantage in striking.

“I really think it’s not an advantage for Alex,” Vakhitov said. “Cyril is like a natural heavyweight. But unfortunately, Alex came from 185 [pounds] and over and over. But if he gained that weight to feel easier in wrestling, I think it’s a mistake. Because it’s not a real advantage for the striking.” 

Vakhitov’s light heavyweight title run at Glory kickboxing ended with a split-decision loss against Pereira in their first outing in 2021. However, Vakhitov reclaimed the title with a majority decision win in their immediate rematch. That was Pereira’s last kickboxing fight as he joined the UFC soon after. Meanwhile, Vakhitov has recently been dabbling in MMA, where he holds a 3-1 record. Vakhitov earned a UFC contract with a knockout win on t in 2024, but he chose to re-sign with Glory Kickboxing.