Artem Vakhitov Still Negotiating with UFC After Rejecting Initial Offer

Artem Vakhitov received a UFC contract after a very impressive victory on Dana White`s Contender Series.

Artem Vakhitov, who transitioned to MMA in 2023, quickly found himself on Dana White`s Contender Series last year, where he faced Islem Masraf.

After securing a first-round knockout, Dana White offered the Russian striker a UFC contract, hoping to arrange a significant trilogy fight against Alex Pereira, given their previous two encounters in Glory.

Vakhitov can thank Pereira for the UFC contract opportunity, as Pereira persuaded White to sign him to complete their trilogy, this time in the UFC Octagon.

Artem Vakhitov remains in talks with UFC after declining contract offer

Despite being offered a UFC contract, Vakhitov surprisingly declined it and is instead scheduled to fight Glory champion Rico Verhoeven at Glory 100.

The 34-year-old indicated that the initial contract offered through the Contender Series had an unsatisfactory base pay.

However, in a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, he disclosed that negotiations with the UFC are ongoing, suggesting a potential future with the promotion is still possible.

“We went through the Contender Series, and during discussions, we unfortunately couldn`t agree on certain terms. We paused negotiations, and then the Glory offer came, which we accepted.”

“Accepting the lower contract with the hope of a better one was considered, but it seemed too risky financially.”

“Currently, we haven`t signed with the UFC and are still in negotiations. Our focus is now on the Glory fight, but we might revisit UFC discussions afterward,” Vakhitov stated.

Vakhitov`s revelation adds even more weight to his upcoming fight against Verhoeven. A victory could strengthen his position for a more appealing UFC contract.

Could a trilogy fight between Artem Vakhitov and Alex Pereira happen in the UFC?

Despite seeming improbable, Vakhitov might only need a few victories in the light heavyweight division to secure a high-profile fight against Pereira.

They have previously fought twice in Glory, each winning once.

Pereira`s path to a UFC title fight was expedited due to his established rivalry with Israel Adesanya, setting a precedent.

With Pereira`s career potentially nearing its end, a UFC fight against Vakhitov depends on the outcomes of two significant fights, including Pereira`s title rematch against Magomed Ankalaev.