After carving out his legacy in kickboxing, Alex Pereira’s former rival, Artem Vakhitov, has shocked the combat sports world by choosing not to join the UFC. Instead, the Russian kickboxing phenom has opted to return to GLORY Kickboxing, leaving fans puzzled. Vakhitov, a two-time GLORY Kickboxing champion, sparked intrigue last October when he secured a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Well, much of the buzz was because he has a history with Pereira (both are 1-1), making his sudden departure all the more surprising. Amid the confusion, Alex Pereira broke his silence, offering his perspective on his rival’s unexpected decision.

Fans were excited to witness Vakhitov’s entry into the world’s premier MMA promotion’s light heavyweight division, as the story of Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira seemed to be repeating itself. However, just when things were starting to make sense, the Russian fighter pulled out of his UFC contract. So, what reason did the Russian heavyweight give for his exodus? When asked about his UFC contract, Vakhitov stated, “Unfortunately, when it came time to finalize the UFC contract, it became clear that the UFC has strict policies for fighters coming through DWCS.”

Disappointed? Well, Alex Pereira is much more dismayed as his former opponent pulled out. While having a conversation with the media, the former light-heavy heavyweight champion asserted, “I’m surprised Vakhitov declined the offer. He used my name as leverage and made some noise with the Contenders Series win. I also spoke to Dana backstage about signing him, and now to see him fighting Rico Verhoeven at Glory is a little surprising. For me, it’s awesome but surprising.”

After dominating at the Contender Series, it was Alex Pereira himself who urged Dana White to sign Artem Vakhitov. But with Vakhitov turning down the UFC’s offer—the long-awaited trilogy—a final chapter in their combat sports rivalry just went up in smoke. So, what’s next for Vakhitov? The former GLORY Kickboxing champion will be fighting against Rico Verhoeven in June.

According to the reports, after witnessing the amazing run of Vakhitov, his manager asserted that his fighter deserved a payday comparable to what Alex Pereira received for his UFC debut in 2021. However, the UFC never agreed. What were the backstage secrets? Let’s find out.

Artem Vakhitov’s manager gave out the actual reason behind the UFC exodus

Artem Vakhitov, in his statement, further added, “Under their protocols, they were only able to offer me the standard contract given to all DWCS signings. My team tried to negotiate, but the UFC’s rules left no room for adjustments. I want to be clear that I don’t take issue with their approach—I respect their structure. But I am a prizefighter, and I have a family to support. I have a limited window to make the most of my career.” With a career record of 3 victories and only one defeat, Vakhitov emphasized that he deserved much more than what the UFC was offering to him.

According to his manager, “The UFC’s policy is that all Dana White Contender Series fighters receive the same contract with fixed terms. Personally, I found this unfair to Artem, considering his combat sports accomplishments and the fact that he was on par with Alex at the time he entered the UFC.

Well, his manager did try to water down the UFC’s firm stance on his fight contracts, but rules are rules. In the end, Artem Vakhitov had to pass on the offer. As disappointing it might look, this was the best option for him. In the end, His manager added, “my negotiations with Hunter [Campbell] and his team were very professional and respectful. The doors are not closed.” 

Is there any possibility of him coming back to the UFC? Well, there might be, considering the fact that the UFC never misses a beat on any potential great fighter. However, everything will depend on the head honchos. Given that, what are your thoughts on the hubbub? State your opinion in the comments below.