HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.–The reigning GLORY light-heavyweight champion, Artem Vakhitov (18-5) put on a spectacular show at GLORY 38 on Friday by easily dispatching of No.4-ranked contender Saulo Cavalari.
Vakhitov, 25, scored a TKO victory inside the Sears Centre Arena in the rubber match with Cavalari, who he defeated at GLORY 28 to win the light-heavyweight title last year and lost to at GLORY 20 in their first encounter back in 2015.
Early on in the second round the Prokopyevsk, Russia native clipped Cavalari with a perfectly-placed right hand, sending the Brazilian down to the canvas. He knew right then it was going to be his night.
“When the first knocked down happened I smelled blood and I knew I would finish the fight rather quickly,” Vakhitov told MMA Plus after the fight through a translator.
And finish it he did, scoring a second knockdown not long after the first one, before cornering Cavalari and unloading a bevy of punches until referee Chris Wagner stepped in to wave it off.
“My preparation for the fight was much better than my opponent and I think that it showed inside the ring,” said Vakhitov, who has now won four straight to improve his GLORY record to 7-1.
The rise of Artem Vakhitov since his 2013 GLORY debut
Since his GLORY debut in 2013, Vakhitov has risen up the ranks and gone from prospect to champion rather quickly. He avenged his lone GLORY loss against Cavalari by defeating him in their rematch, and emphatically stopped both Zack Mwekassa and Cavalari in his two title defences.
“It’s been a very long process with the coaching staff and the training with my coaches and partners in the gym and as a result you can see it all in the ring,” he said.
Next up for the Russian champion will be the winner of the GLORY 38 “Contender” tournament, Ariel Machado. The Brazilian defeated Danyo Ilunga and Zinedine Hameur-Lain on Friday night to earn a future title shot. Vakhitov weighed in on the future matchup against the No.7-ranked GLORY light-heavyweight.
“He’s a great boxer, but I think I am the better fighter,” he said.
Will Vakhitov fight Gokhan Saki?
Another name that is still looming over the light-heavyweight division is former GLORY champion, Gokhan Saki, who hasn’t fought in the promotion since defeating Tyrone Spong at GLORY 15 in 2015.
When asked about a potential matchup against “The Rebel,” Vakhitov said: “I’m really looking forward to fighting him and I think that fight will really decide what’s going on in the division and what’s happening with the top contenders.”
Before either of those fights can be made, Vakhitov said he may need to have his right hand looked at because it might have been injured during the fight.
“There is a possibility I broke my hand so I have to get an X-ray and then go from there.”
