Artem Vakhitov Gives Ciryl Gane Blueprint to Beat Alex Pereira
Artem Vakhitov knows Alex Pereira better than most.
The former GLORY rival, and the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, recently gave Ciryl Gane a detailed breakdown on how to approach “Poatan” ahead of their heavyweight clash.
Vakhitov believes the biggest mistake opponents make is giving Pereira too much respect before the fight even begins.
“Everyone’s scared, you don’t need to be scared,” Vakhitov said.
That advice immediately stands out because Pereira’s power has created a strong mental effect around him. Many fighters enter against him cautious, defensive, and worried about one clean shot ending the night.
Vakhitov thinks Gane must do the opposite.
Vakhitov Says Pereira’s Defense Is the Key Weakness
Vakhitov described Pereira as a fighter with simple but extremely dangerous tools.
According to him, Pereira does not need complicated combinations to be effective. His strikes are direct, powerful, and perfectly timed. But Vakhitov believes there is a weakness behind that danger.
“Alex has minimal technique, but very effective strikes,” Vakhitov said. “His weakness is his openness. He has very strong attack, but his defense suffers.”
That is the tactical point Vakhitov wants Gane to understand.
Pereira is dangerous when opponents wait, hesitate, and allow him to set traps. But if Gane can force him backward, stay aggressive, and make him defend, Vakhitov believes Pereira can start to lose control of the fight.
“You need to go forward and be aggressive, then Alex starts to get lost,” he said.
That is easier said than done. Pereira’s counter power is exactly why many fighters avoid walking him down. But Gane has the footwork, movement, and heavyweight experience to make that approach interesting.
Pereira and Gane are both listed at 6’4″, but Gane owns a slight reach advantage at 81 inches, compared to Pereira’s 79 inches. Gane is also a natural heavyweight, while Pereira is moving up after success at middleweight and light heavyweight.
Stylistically, this is a fascinating fight.
Pereira brings legendary knockout power, elite timing, and championship confidence. Gane brings movement, speed, distance control, and a more natural heavyweight frame.
Vakhitov believes the fight will not last long — and he is picking Gane.
“The fight will end early,” Vakhitov said. “Ciryl will finish the job.”
That prediction adds major intrigue because Vakhitov is not just a random analyst. He has shared the ring with Pereira twice. Their kickboxing series is tied 1-1, with both fights going to the scorecards. Pereira won the first meeting by split decision, while Vakhitov won the rematch by majority decision.
That history gives his words extra weight.
Still, Pereira has changed since then. He became a UFC star, captured titles in two divisions, and developed his MMA game around his elite striking. Gane will have to deal not only with Pereira’s power, but also the pressure of fighting a man chasing three-division history.
For Gane, the path may be clear but dangerous: move forward smartly, refuse to be intimidated, and make Pereira defend instead of letting him hunt.
For Pereira, the mission is simple: stay patient, find the opening, and land the kind of shot that changes everything.
Vakhitov believes Gane has the tools to pull it off.
Now the question is whether Gane can follow the blueprint when Pereira is standing in front of him.
