After just two and half years in the UFC, Alex Pereira has already won titles in several divisions and is a global celebrity. The former Glory Kickboxing legend has made a name for himself as one of the world’s top strikers. But now, Artem Vakhitov, his former opponent, has issued the fighter with a challenge for a UFC trilogy bout. However, Pereira doesn’t believe that’s a wise decision for the Russian.
In his last Kickboxing bout at Glory 78, Alex Pereira lost his belt to Artem Vakhitov via majority decision. After Vakhitov made the call-out, ‘Poatan’ responded by accusing Glory Kickboxing promotion of cheating. The fighter also suggested Vakhitov be cautious about the people he’s around.
Hey brother, be careful with the people that are giving you this idea. The same person that is advising you has tried the same to me, and I didn’t do it because I’m not stupid. Everyone knows that when they gave you the win, it’s because GLORY knew that was my last fight in the organization, and they didn’t want me to leave with the belt. For you to expose yourself like this, it seems that you’re a bit lost
Alex Pereira via Instagram
Vakhitov had noted in his call-out that Pereira lacked in the fighting’s defensive aspect. Vakhitov claimed there aren’t any strong contenders in the UFC light heavyweight class that can end Pereira’s dominance. Poatan made it appear easy in his two light heavyweight championship defenses, defeating Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill in the early rounds.
Because of his extraordinary power, Pereira has proven to be a menace to anybody who confronts him. The only fighter in the division to successfully battle Pereira through all rounds is Jan Blachowicz. In the same way, Israel Adesanya is the sole fighter who managed to stop Pereira. There’s a chance that a fresh Izzy-Pereira tale is just around the bend given the circumstances.
Artem Vakhitov can replicate what Alex Pereira did to Israel Adesanya
The Alex Pereira and Artem Vakhitov story is comparable to the Pereira and Israel Adesanya dynamic. Pereira, a former kickboxer, came in and stopped the reigning champion. Izzy and Pereira’s rivalry began in Glory Kickboxing and lasted into the UFC. Adesanya’s infamous mockery of Pereira in an interview set off a chain reaction that resulted in his dethronement by his former opponent in the UFC.
Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya (via Imago)Following that, Pereira established his own legacy in the organization, having contested five championship bouts. The fighter has also defeated five past UFC champions while being the most active titleholder on the roster. All of this has garnered him a tremendous fan base, with the potential to become the first UFC fighter to hold championships in three distinct divisions.
Although it’s hard to replicate what Pereira did, Vakhitov could be the dark horse and can give fans an incredible rivalry. It won’t be surprising to see the UFC trying its best to get Vakhitov in the promotion. Nevertheless, for now, it’s too soon to come to any conclusion.
!
