Alex Pereira would possibly simply have one other challenger to his UFC gentle heavyweight title.
Russian kickboxer and blended martial artist Artem Vakhitov was awarded a UFC contract Tuesday night time in Las Vegas following a first-round end of Islem Masraf within the newest version of Dana White’s Contender Sequence, which is able to see him land within the UFC’s 205-pound area and maybe at some point work himself into place to problem Pereira — who had flown from Salt Lake Metropolis to Las Vegas to witness the efficiency of his former rival.
What a strategy to shut Week 9! 🇷🇺Artem Vakhitov with a artful creation of strikes to safe the primary RD end! #DWCS pic.twitter.com/gvYxqX72G9
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 9, 2024
Vakhitov is, like Pereira, a former Glory gentle heavyweight champion and has competed twice in opposition to the Brazilian champion — with their sequence presently tied at one win apiece. He’s additionally the final man to carry a victory of Pereira underneath kickboxing guidelines. Earlier this 12 months, Vakhitov was rated as the most effective gentle heavyweight kickboxer on the planet, in addition to the fourth finest pound-for-pound.
Talking after the combat on Tuesday, UFC boss Dana White stated that Pereira had given a glowing suggestion that Vakhitov “completely, positively” be signed by the organisation.
Vakhitov’s entrance to the UFC considerably mirrors that of Pereira, who joined the combat league following his rivalry with then-UFC champ Israel Adesanya the place he held two wins over ‘Stylebender.’ They’d combat twice within the UFC, with every man successful the UFC middleweight title from the opposite.
