Alex Pereira and Artem Vakhitov could also be fierce rivals in the case of fight sports activities, however there’s nothing however respect between them exterior the ring.
On Tuesday evening, Vakhitov scored a first-round knockout on Contender Collection however UFC CEO Dana White was on the fence about whether or not or to not signal him to a contract. After attending the UFC APEX present to observe Vakhitov’s efficiency, Pereira truly put in an excellent phrase for the previous GLORY Kickboxing champion and he was signed to a contract.
Following the occasion, Pereira and Vakhitov bumped into one another backstage and chatted by means of translators.
“To be sincere, I’m very comfortable see you profitable,” Vakhitov informed Pereira. “I like what’s occurring with you proper now over right here. So simply maintain doing it, maintain profitable, I’ll be watching this. I’ll be targeted on myself. Hopefully after a number of extra defenses, it should occur in order that we’ll meet one another once more.”
(Video courtesy of Vakhitov’s supervisor Andrey Busygin)
Whereas each fighters had been competing in GLORY, Pereira defeated Vakhitov by cut up determination of their first encounter earlier than the Russian acquired his revenge with a majority determination within the rematch. That combat served as Pereira’s remaining look in GLORY earlier than signing with the UFC the place he’s gone on to turn into a two-division champion in brief order.
After Vakhitov determined to make a full-time transition to MMA, he exchanged quite a lot of messages with Pereira by means of interviews and over social media.
It doesn’t matter what was mentioned, Vakhitov promised it was by no means something private however nearly enterprise.
“Nothing however respect,” Vakhitov mentioned. “All love and it’s simply sports activities. That’s all it’s.”
The fighters shook fingers and shared a hug, with Pereira giving Vakhitov a number of parting phrases with amusing between everyone concerned after he gave his former opponent the additional nod he wanted to get into the UFC.
“You owe me one,” Pereira mentioned.
Vakhitov joins the UFC with a 3-1 document in his MMA profession with all of his wins coming by first-round knockout.
