How would these four kickboxers compare against each other at light heavyweight?

GolovKing

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Gokhan Saki
Tyrone Spong
Artem Vakhitov
Alex Pereira

For me these are the four best fighters I ever saw compete at the light heavyweight division in kickboxing. Saki and Spong both did impressive things at heavyweight but they were always undersized. Saki beat Spong twice but the first time was when Spong had not yet reached his prime and in the second match Spong had the unfortunate leg break. Vakhitov pretty much ran through the competition in his prime but in my opinion never reached the same level after the injuries and I believe never actually reached his full potential. Pereira had the two close fights with him but in my opinion looked like the slightly better fighter, he also looked like the much larger guy despite coming up from middleweight
 
Personally, I see Pereira probably falling towards the bottom of the pile here. Pereira's main advantages are his size and power, and I felt like the main reason Vakhitov had such a hard time with him is because he lacks the stopping power that his peers have -- not to say he is weak, but he has a 35% KO rate against Spong's 68%, Saki's 72%, and Pereira's 64% (in KB). Pereira has shown time and time again that he is very hittable, and I think Saki and Spong are technically sound enough to find the button and keep themselves safe from Alex's power. IMO Vakhitov has the technical chops to go toe-to-toe with Spong and Saki, but not the power needed to make them second guess their approach -- I think Artem would lose by decision or potentially a stoppage if he were to try to exchange too much. At the top you have Spong and Saki, and Saki has beaten Spong in both of their meetings (albeit, the second win was the shin injury that ended Spong's KB career and wasn't really a proper TKO). I'd say Saki ends up being the king of the hill.
 
Prime Spong is probably the best around, Saki's speed alone makes him Spong's equal. Vakhitov has elite muay thai skill but the lacks power to have keept Spong or Saki honest. Pereira could feasibly beat any of them but looses more often than not.
 
Saki and Spong via speed and brutal leg kicks.
 
Monte Moku said:
Personally, I see Pereira probably falling towards the bottom of the pile here. Pereira's main advantages are his size and power, and I felt like the main reason Vakhitov had such a hard time with him is because he lacks the stopping power that his peers have -- not to say he is weak, but he has a 35% KO rate against Spong's 68%, Saki's 72%, and Pereira's 64% (in KB). Pereira has shown time and time again that he is very hittable, and I think Saki and Spong are technically sound enough to find the button and keep themselves safe from Alex's power. IMO Vakhitov has the technical chops to go toe-to-toe with Spong and Saki, but not the power needed to make them second guess their approach -- I think Artem would lose by decision or potentially a stoppage if he were to try to exchange too much. At the top you have Spong and Saki, and Saki has beaten Spong in both of their meetings (albeit, the second win was the shin injury that ended Spong's KB career and wasn't really a proper TKO). I'd say Saki ends up being the king of the hill.
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Prior to his injuries, I think shoulder injuries if I'm not mistaken wasn't Vakhitov much more of a finisher? And in addition he might have the best chin of all these guys listed. He's the one guy I can't really recall ever being seriously rocked or dropped by any strikes even in his two fights with Alex, granted he never fought the monsters that Spong and Saki fought
 
Blazeblack said:
Prime Spong is probably the best around, Saki's speed alone makes him Spong's equal. Vakhitov has elite muay thai skill but the lacks power to have keept Spong or Saki honest. Pereira could feasibly beat any of them but looses more often than not.
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Spong was probably the most chinny or most vulnerable to being knocked out himself though wouldn't you say? I think out of all the guys listed Alex probably had the best chance at finishing him but there's also a good chance Alex gets finished as well. I think Vakhitov in his initial title run before he became riddled with injuries has enough power to keep Spong and Saki honest
 
GolovKing said:
Especially considering how weak that roster already is and that's a pretty thin division in kickboxing on top of it
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Yep, and Periera left to go dominate the UFC after their fight and he was the only real challenge.
 
GolovKing said:
Spong was probably the most chinny or most vulnerable to being knocked out himself though wouldn't you say? I think out of all the guys listed Alex probably had the best chance at finishing him but there's also a good chance Alex gets finished as well. I think Vakhitov in his initial title run before he became riddled with injuries has enough power to keep Spong and Saki honest
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I think Spong at his best would have been able to beat the breaks off Alex, IMHO.
 
Prime Spong was really good. Could have been a pro boxing champ too with his level of hands.
 
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