Artem Vakhitov, a former GLORY light heavyweight champion and two-time opponent of Alex Pereira, has expressed skepticism regarding the impact of Pereira’s increased weight in a potential fight against Ciryl Gane. Vakhitov believes that the added bulk may not provide Pereira with a significant advantage, particularly in wrestling and clinch situations, and could even be a miscalculation for his striking.
Vakhitov, who has firsthand experience fighting Pereira at a championship level, argued in an interview that Pereira’s climb from the middleweight division (185 pounds) means that additional weight might not translate into a substantial boost for his striking power or overall effectiveness. He suggested that the focus on gaining weight might be a mistake if the intention is to improve his wrestling or clinch game.
His assessment is further informed by his own training experiences with Gane. Vakhitov praised Gane’s exceptional timing, distance management, stamina, and solid kickboxing foundation, indicating that Gane operates at a “totally different level.”
Ciryl Gane presents a unique challenge for heavyweights due to his mobility and technical striking, contrasting with the typical power-first approach of many in the division. Gane has secured notable wins against Derrick Lewis, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexander Volkov, Tai Tuivasa, and Serghei Spivac, although he has faced losses to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, and a no-contest against Tom Aspinall. These fights highlight the difficulty of engaging in straightforward striking exchanges with Gane.
Alex Pereira is currently slated to face Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title on June 14. The winner is expected to challenge Tom Aspinall for the undisputed title.
While Pereira’s transition to heavyweight is understandable given his championship pedigree in middleweight and light heavyweight, and his elite kickboxing background, Vakhitov’s perspective raises questions about whether simply adding mass is sufficient to overcome the inherent advantages of a natural heavyweight like Gane in terms of comfort, durability, and adaptation to the division’s demands.
In essence, Vakhitov’s viewpoint suggests that while Pereira’s power and championship experience make him a threat, the added weight may not be the decisive factor against a highly skilled and well-rounded heavyweight like Ciryl Gane.