Tag: Artem Vakhitov

Video – Artem Vakhitov, the last kickboxer to beat Alex Pereira, picks up his first MMA win via knockout

Artem VakhitovArtem Vakhitov, the last kickboxer to defeat current UFC champion Alex Pereira under the GLORY Kickboxing banner, picked up…

Artem Vakhitov

Artem Vakhitov, the last kickboxer to defeat current UFC champion Alex Pereira under the GLORY Kickboxing banner, picked up his first win in mixed martial arts.

After suffering a dislocated elbow 55 seconds into his MMA debut in June, Vakhitov returned at a World Ertaymash Federation event in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, earning a technical knockout over his 0-1 opponent, Siyavush Salokhov.

After a successful amateur career where he won three world championships as well as taking gold in 2013 at the World Combat Games, the Prokopyevsk, Russia native turned pro in 2009 and signed with GLORY Kickboxing four years later.

He claimed the GLORY light heavyweight world title on two separate occasions and currently sits as Combat Press’ No. 6 ranked pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world.

Vakhitov squared off with Alex Pereira in back-to-back bouts, coming up short in their inaugural meeting at GLORY 77 in Rotterdam. With the bout ending via a closely contested split decision, the two immediately ran it back with Vakhitov earning a majority decision to reclaim the light heavyweight crown.

GLORY released Vakhitov from their roster on June 17, 2022, in protest of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Video – Ex-GLORY Kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov suffers dislocated elbow in MMA debut

Artem VakhitovIn his mixed martial arts debut, things did not go according to plan for former GLORY Kickboxing light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov. Known by most MMA fans as the last man to defeat ex-UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira in the world of kickboxing, Artem Vakhitov stepped into the cage on Sunday for a main event […]

Artem Vakhitov

In his mixed martial arts debut, things did not go according to plan for former GLORY Kickboxing light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov.

Known by most MMA fans as the last man to defeat ex-UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira in the world of kickboxing, Artem Vakhitov stepped into the cage on Sunday for a main event clash with Ashraf Bashandy at Open FC 31 in Shergesh, Russia. In the opening minute of the matchup, Bashandy had Vakhitov pressed against the cage wall and appeared to pull guard, dragging Vakhitov down on top of him. During the impact, Vakhitov seemingly injured his elbow prompting him to get the referee’s attention and ultimately end the fight at the 55-second mark.

Artem Vakhitov and Alex Pereira Both Lost Their MMA Debuts

Artem Vakhitov made his GLORY Kickboxing debut in 2013, going 5-1 en route to winning his first light heavyweight title with the promotion. He would go on to defend the title five times before surrendering the belt to Alex Pereira in 2021. Running it back eight months later, Vakhitov would recapture the light heavyweight title with a majority decision over Pereira. Shortly following the loss, ‘Poatan’ would exit the promotion and make his transition to mixed martial arts, a decision that ultimately led him back to long-time rival Israel Adesanya.

Of course, we all know how that story goes with Alex Pereira capturing the UFC middleweight title before handing it right back to ‘The Last Stylebender’ five months later.

Artem Vakhitov is hoping to generate similar results in his own mixed martial arts career. Despite suffering an anti-climactic defeat in his first outing, Vakhitov can take solace in the fact that even Alex Pereira lost his own MMA debut in 2015, suffering a third-round rear-naked choke.

Artem Vakhitov, the last man to defeat UFC star Alex Pereira in GLORY, set to make his MMA debut

Artem Vakhitov books MMA debut last man to beat UFC champion Alex PereiraArtem Vakhitov, the last man to defeat former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira in kickboxing has booked his mixed martial arts debut. Armet Vakhitov, a two-time GLORY Kickboxing light heavyweight champion, holds the distinction of being the last man to hand Alex Pereira a loss before the Brazilian boogeyman made his own transition to MMA. […]

Artem Vakhitov books MMA debut last man to beat UFC champion Alex Pereira

Artem Vakhitov, the last man to defeat former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira in kickboxing has booked his mixed martial arts debut.

Armet Vakhitov, a two-time GLORY Kickboxing light heavyweight champion, holds the distinction of being the last man to hand Alex Pereira a loss before the Brazilian boogeyman made his own transition to MMA. Of course, we all know how well that turned out with ‘Poatan’ scoring a shocking fifth-round knockout against longtime rival Israel Adesanya to capture the UFC’s 185-pound crown at UFC 281 in November. Vakhitov hopes to follow a similar path as he begins his own mixed martial arts career in his native Russia.

As confirmed by MMA Fighting, Artem Vakhitov will make his debut at Open FC 31 in Shergesh, Russia, on June 11. He is set to square off with ‘The Egypitian Lion’ Ashraf Bashandy, a fighter who will be making his own pro MMA debut after going 4-1 as an amateur with three of those victories coming by way of submission.

Artem Vakhitov Closed Out His GLORY Kickboxing Career with a Majority Decision Over Alex Pereira

The 32-year-old Russian striking standout has an impressive 23 wins in the world of kickboxing with eight via knockout. Vakhitov defended the GLORY world championship five times before surrendering the belt to Alex Pereira via a closely-contested split decision at GLORY 77. Eight months later, Vakhitov would reclaim the title, securing a majority decision over Pereira in what would be the Brazilian’s last fight with the promotion before moving on to the UFC.

Vakhitov parted ways with GLORY in 2022, intent on making his MMA debut under one of North America’s premiere combat sports promotions. Instead, Vakhitov will look to earn his first win in mixed martial arts on the Russian regional scene.

Artem Vakhitov vs. Ashraf Bashandy will serve at the main event for the June 11 showcase in his homeland.