Kickboxing rival Artem Vakhitov plays down Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 victory over Khalil Rountree

Artem Vakhitov dismisses the notion that UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is the best striker in MMA.

Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) defended his title by defeating Khalil Rountree in Round 4 of the UFC 307 main event on Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Vakhitov (2-1), a former rival of Pereira in kickboxing, did not appreciate Pereira’s achievement as much as everyone else.

“I don’t think he’s really good and the best striker, because just having a good shot doesn’t mean you’re a really good striker,” Vakhitov told Submission Radio.

“A real striker is someone who has many combinations and very different options. He’s just taught well: a shot and then the ball. But that doesn’t mean he has good distance, good timing and other things. So I think he’s not a real striker. That’s why he’s a really good striker.

Vakhitov and Pereira fought twice in consecutive bouts in Glory Kickboxing. Pereria won their first meeting by split decision at Glory 77 in January 2021. Vakhitov avenged that defeat eight months later by majority decision at Glory 78.

Pereira said he doubts Vakhitov can repeat her kickboxing history in the UFC, but Vakhitov disagrees. The 33-year-old will attempt to secure a UFC contract on Tuesday when he faces Islem Masraf (3-0) at Dana White’s Contender Series 75 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Yes, I certainly saw it, and he could say whatever he wanted now. But the time will come and he will change his mind, I am sure,” Vakhitov said. “Fighting with small gloves is a different sport. We have a very good and experienced team. If there was a fight in the future, we would certainly do everything we could to be prepared.”

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For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie’s UFC 307 event hub.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Kickboxing rival Artem Vakhitov plays down Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 win over Khalil Rountree