Artem Vakhitov, the last fighter to defeat Alex Pereira in kickboxing, has voiced his desire for a trilogy fight against `Poatan`, potentially under mixed martial arts rules.
Despite receiving a contract offer from the UFC following an impressive showing on Dana White’s Contender Series, Vakhitov opted against joining the premier MMA organization at this time.
Instead, the accomplished Russian striker chose to focus on a significant challenge in kickboxing history.
This Saturday night, Vakhitov is set to compete against Rico Verhoeven at Glory 100, a highly anticipated clash between two prominent figures in combat sports.
Vakhitov Open to MMA Bout Against Pereira
Should he achieve victory over Verhoeven, Artem Vakhitov intends to turn his attention towards Alex Pereira.
The two previously met twice in kickboxing; Pereira won their initial encounter, while Vakhitov secured the win in the rematch.
With their head-to-head record standing at 1-1, Vakhitov expressed interest in a rubber match to settle their unfinished rivalry, whether it takes place in MMA or kickboxing.
In a recent exclusive interview, Vakhitov commented on their history: “It was a very remarkable story with Alex. People genuinely remember it well, and now Alex has achieved superstar status in the UFC.”
He continued: “I am absolutely prepared to fight him again, even if it`s under MMA rules. In kickboxing, our story is unique. It was a fantastic rivalry; why wouldn`t we complete a trilogy there?”
“Some observers felt my victory wasn`t definitive because the fight was closely contested, so I believe a third fight would be a fitting trilogy bout.”
“I am quite confident that I would come out victorious in our third meeting.”
Glory Last Heavyweight Standing Tournament Also on Vakhitov`s Radar
While a fight with Pereira is a strong ambition, Vakhitov is also keen on another major opportunity: competing in the Glory Last Heavyweight Standing tournament.
He shared his enthusiasm for the potential challenge: “I would join with great pleasure. I`ve already watched the first stage of the tournament at the previous Glory event.”
“As I`ve frequently mentioned, weight isn`t the most crucial factor; I don`t place excessive importance on it. As was evident in the recent heavyweight matches, weight didn`t seem to be the deciding factor.”
