Former GLORY light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov will make his MMA debut against Ashraf Bashandy at Open FC 31 in Russia.
Artem Vakhitov, the two-time GLORY light heavyweight champion, is officially making the transition to MMA in June. Vakhitov, who was the last man to defeat former UFC champion Alex Pereira in kickboxing, will face Ashraf Bashandy in a 205-pound contest. This highly anticipated match will serve as the main event for Open FC 31 in Shergesh, Russia, on June 11.
Boasting a kickboxing record of 23 wins, with eight by knockout, and only six defeats, Vakhitov is a formidable striker. The 32-year-old successfully defended the GLORY title five times between 2016 and 2019, before losing a split decision to Pereira in 2021. However, he avenged this loss with a majority decision call to reclaim the title just eight months later, effectively sending Pereira to the UFC with a loss.
Vakhitov parted ways with GLORY and became a free agent in mid-2022. He initially set his sights on potentially making his MMA debut under the UFC or PFL banners. However, he ultimately decided to take his first foray into the sport in his native Russia. Bashandy, on the other hand, will make his professional MMA debut after competing in five amateur MMA bouts, accumulating a record of 4-1, with three victories coming by submission.