News Artem Vakhitov, last man to beat Alex Pereira, turns down UFC contract

[Pechan]

lol probably some russian mob shit, no way that promotion is paying him more than the UFC and One.

 

[theincognito]

lol probably some russian mob shit, no way that promotion is paying him more than the UFC and One.

Isn't it possible that he just doesn't train MMA and doesn't want to risk getting choked in 30 seconds?

We don't know if One even offered him a deal. Do they even have his weight class?

 

[Pechan]

Isn't it possible that he just doesn't train MMA and doesn't want to risk getting choked in 30 seconds?

We don't know if One even offered him a deal. Do they even have his weight class?

If his agents were courting MMA promotions then its safe to say he told them he wanted to compete in MMA.

 

[KeeSmyth]

Why did glory terminate contract, cutting down payroll?

 

[TCE]

Why did glory terminate contract, cutting down payroll?

They released all (?) or at least most of their Russian fighters due to their war in Ukraine.

 

[VAfan]

the middleweight division is turning into six degrees of separation.

 

[ServantofGOD]

Vakhitov relies on big gloves and high guard a lot for his defense. Reason why Alex and Izzy are special is because of their defense that isn't reliant on a static high guard and big gloves like most kickboxers. They have better head, upper body movement and positioning than most kickboxers. They're also just flat out elite athletes regardless in vacuum and Alex has alien attributes with his height, big bones, frame, power, cardio.

Look at Saki who also relies on big gloves for defense to block and got KOd by Rountree in MMA. Wilnis and Yousri who are 2 of the elite MWs from Alex and Izzy's era of kickboxing and fought both multiple times.... they are 2-2 and 3-2 in MMA right now and they're both 30yo too. Younger than Alex or Izzy. They won't ever be even decent MMA fighters most likely.

I hope Alex and Izzy success doesn't fool casuals into thinking any elite kickboxer can transition successfully because that is not going to happen.

I agree. Also Artem may surely want UFC glory but to start in MMA Russia is better pay for him now and can give him winnable matches.

Say he builds up a record I cant imagine him not wanting a UFC shot

 

[KOPPE]

400k*
I remember Dana bragging about a prelim fighter on UFC 268 getting paid 400k (around the time Dana was getting shit for fighter pay).
Obviously he was talking about Pereira..

Alex Pereira: $134,000 ($40,000 to show, $40,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $4,000 fight week incentive pay)

 

[BoxerMaurits]

Alex Pereira: $134,000 ($40,000 to show, $40,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $4,000 fight week incentive pay)

Wow strange, which prelim-fighter was Dana referring to then?

 

[KOPPE]

Wow strange, which prelim-fighter was Dana referring to then?

Gian Villante got the highest pay in that prelim 75k to show up. goof was lying

 

[BoxerMaurits]

Gian Villante got the highest pay in that prelim 75k to show up. goof was lying

That fooking bald Goof

 

[BoxerMaurits]

Isn't it possible that he just doesn't train MMA and doesn't want to risk getting choked in 30 seconds?

We don't know if One even offered him a deal. Do they even have his weight class?

Vakhitov was in talks with ONE some time ago, he went to Singapore for it



Yeah ONE has his weightclass. He could fight at LHW or even challenge himself at HW

 

[Rank Squatter]

Why did Glory not renew?

 

[ForeverYoung]

The dude likes being paid above the minimum wage.

Idk why he's kickboxing then. Those guys don't make squat and get next to 0 mainstream recognition.

 

[tdluxon]

Doesn’t seem like an mma fighter so signing with ufc doesn’t make sense for a kickboxer. Should have signed with one though and just did kickboxing matches. I guess the Russians offered more $$$ though

 

[Pepy]

Maybe he doesn't want to learn grappling?

I remember talking to Hoost and he told us that Pride offered him a lot of money but he didnt want to start wrestling at 26-27

 

[tdluxon]

If his agents were courting MMA promotions then its safe to say he told them he wanted to compete in MMA.

One has kickboxing only divisions though seems like that would be a good fit but Putin is probably drafting him to go to Ukrainian for a fight with kiltchko

 

[jeff7b9]

Sounds like a non story to me.

" Extra extra, read all about it!
Kickboxer decides to do kickboxing."

 

[cereal gan]

Vakhitov was in talks with ONE some time ago, he went to Singapore for it



Yeah ONE has his weightclass. He could fight at LHW or even challenge himself at HW

his skill is above and beyond any LHW and HW in ONE KB
he will do very well anywhere he goes except mma cause of his defense dependency on big gloves

 

[Prologue]

I always love when the UFC signs (or try to) the last person to beat X superstar. Normally the gamble doesn't pay off but in the Pereira/Adesanya scenario, worked out beautifully.