{"id":37948,"date":"2026-04-27T16:33:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Former-kickboxing-foe-Alex-Pereiras-heavyweight-move-a-mistake-200983"},"modified":"2026-04-27T16:33:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:33:38","slug":"former-kickboxing-foe-alex-pereiras-heavyweight-move-a-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/former-kickboxing-foe-alex-pereiras-heavyweight-move-a-mistake\/","title":{"rendered":"Former kickboxing foe: Alex Pereira\u2019s heavyweight move ‘a mistake’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Artem
\nVakhitov<\/a> doesn\u2019t think Alex
\nPereira<\/a> is naturally built for heavyweight. <\/p>\n

Pereria is scheduled to fight Ciryl Gane<\/a>
\nfor the interim heavyweight title at
\nUFC White House<\/a> on June 14. Vakhitov, the last man to beat
\nPereira in kickboxing, recently trained with Gane. While Vakhitov
\nwas previously skeptical about Gane, he has now changed his mind
\nabout \u201cBon Gamin.\u201d Vakhitov is impressed with Gane\u2019s overall
\nskillset and favors the Frenchman to beat \u201cPoatan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cBefore I came to train with Ciryl Gane<\/a>,
\nI was a little suspicious regarding his style, his preparations,\u201d
\nVakhitov told Standmeup<\/a>. \u201cBut when I went there, I really
\nfelt that the guy is totally on a different level. When I saw his
\nteam, how he was preparing, how he did everything well, his timing,
\nfeeling the distance, stamina, his striking, he has everything. Now
\nhe has to work on his psychological and mental things. Now I\u2019ve
\nchanged my mind, I think it\u2019s 70-30, he really can get
\nit.\u201d <\/p>\n

Heavier Isn\u2019t Better<\/h2>\n

Pereira (13-3) won the
\nUFC<\/a> middleweight and light heavyweight titles before moving up
\nto heavyweight. The Brazilian is currently looking bulkier than
\never, though not necessarily in an impressive way. Vakhitov
\nbelieves Pereira\u2019s heavyweight move is a mistake as he is not a
\nnatural for the weight class, unlike Gane. Vakhitov believes that
\nif Pereira is gaining weight to help him wrestle, it is going to be
\na disadvantage in striking.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really think it\u2019s not an advantage for Alex,\u201d Vakhitov said.
\n\u201cCyril is like a natural heavyweight. But unfortunately, Alex came
\nfrom 185 [pounds] and over and over. But if he gained that weight
\nto feel easier in wrestling, I think it\u2019s a mistake. Because it\u2019s
\nnot a real advantage for the striking.\u201d <\/p>\n

Vakhitov\u2019s light heavyweight title run at Glory kickboxing ended
\nwith a split-decision loss against Pereira in their first outing in
\n2021. However, Vakhitov reclaimed the title with a majority
\ndecision win in their immediate rematch. That was Pereira\u2019s last
\nkickboxing fight as he joined the UFC soon after. Meanwhile,
\nVakhitov has recently been dabbling in MMA, where he holds a 3-1
\nrecord. Vakhitov earned a UFC contract with a knockout win on
\ntDana
\nWhite’s Contender Series<\/a> in 2024, but he chose to re-sign with
\nGlory Kickboxing. <\/p>\n