Revisiting Alex Pereira's greatest two-fight rivalry from Glory Kickboxing days (and it isn't Israel Adesanya)

Alex Pereira is a kickboxing great who's forged a legendary career in MMA too. For years, he's done battle with some of the most dangerous fighters in the world. His most iconic rivalry is considered to be the one against UFC megastar and fellow kickboxing savant Israel Adesanya, spanning two fights in kickboxing and MMA each.

Another fierce rival of 'Poatan' also happens to be a kickboxing wizard, Russia's Artem Vakhitov, a two-time Glory Kickboxing light heavyweight champion. Vakhitov transitioned from kickboxing to MMA in June 2023 and has amassed a 2-1 MMA record, his lone defeat coming via an injury stoppage.

The former Glory light heavyweight champion is pursuing a third fight against Alex Pereira, ideally an MMA bout in the UFC. Speaking to MMA Fighting, the 33-year-old acknowledged Pereira's recent rise to superstardom in the UFC and claimed that he supports his rival against other opponents.

Moreover, he alluded that certain sections of the combat sports dominion have deemed 'Poatan' the best striker in the world. Vakhitov asserted that he'd like to introduce those people to himself and his team, adding that he'd defeated him in "pure striking competition" before and would do it again in the UFC.

The 37-year-old Pereira, who's the former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, responded by making an allusion to them being one apiece against each other in kickboxing.

Pereira implied that Vakhitov was gifted a win on the judges' scorecards in their rematch, as Glory Kickboxing knew he (Pereira) would be departing the organization and didn't want him to leave with the Glory light heavyweight belt.

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Alex Pereira vs. Artem Vakhitov 1 and 2

Then-Glory middleweight champion and then-interim Glory light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira faced then-Glory light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov in a light heavyweight super-fight at Glory 77: Rotterdam (Jan. 2021). With the Vakhitov's light heavyweight belt at stake, 'Poatan' won a razor-thin split decision and became the first simultaneous double-champ in Glory history.

Regardless, many felt that the judges got the scorecards wrong. They argued that the Russian champion was more deserving of the decision victory and should've retained his light heavyweight title.

Watch the grueling fight below:

An immediate rematch ensued at Glory 78: Rotterdam (Sept. 2021), with Alex Pereira putting his newly-won Glory Kickboxing light heavyweight championship on the line against former divisional kingpin Artem Vakhitov. 'Poatan' appeared to put on a better performance in their second encounter, but the referee deducted a point from him in round four, citing excessive clinching.

Their rematch, too, went the distance. The point deduction added to the scorecard controversy, as the tallies had it a majority decision victory for Vakhitov. The Russian fighter had thereby avenged his defeat and reclaimed the Glory light heavyweight title.

Ironically, akin to how many felt Vakhitov was wronged on the scorecards in the first fight, the consensus is that the judges robbed Pereira of a win in the rematch.

Watch their entertaining rematch below: