Ciryl Gane’s preparation for UFC Freedom 250 is attracting growing attention as anticipation builds around the card.
While officially the co-main event, his clash with Alex Pereira is widely seen as the night’s true headline.
Much of that perception stems from expectations surrounding the main event, where Ilia Topuria is heavily favoured against Justin Gaethje.
As a result, focus has shifted towards the more competitive and unpredictable matchup for the interim heavyweight belt.
Both camps have responded by intensifying preparations, with training details emerging in recent days. Gane’s set-up, in particular, has sparked discussion across the MMA community.
Clips circulating online show Gane working alongside Artem Vakhitov, a former Glory kickboxing champion and the last fighter to defeat ‘Poatan’ in that promotion.
The connection is significant given Pereira’s decorated striking background. Vakhitov faced him twice in Glory, losing their first meeting by split decision before winning the rematch by majority decision.
That second bout took place at Glory 78 and was contested for the light heavyweight title. It also marked Pereira’s final appearance in the promotion before he transitioned to MMA and signed with the UFC.
Training with Vakhitov offers Gane direct exposure to a stylistic blueprint that has previously troubled Pereira. The footage has therefore drawn attention as fans look for clues about how the fight may unfold.
Gane is not the only fighter benefiting from a connection to Pereira’s past opponents.
Pereira’s own camp includes Yousri Belgaroui, a rising UFC middleweight who also holds a win over him from their time in Glory.
The two faced each other three times, with Belgaroui winning their first encounter before ‘Poatan’ responded by taking the next two bouts.
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