Artem Vakhitov, the former GLORY kickboxing champ, just threw a curveball that’s got the MMA world buzzing—he’s turning down a UFC contract to chase a monster fight instead. After smashing it on Dana White’s Contender Series in October and earning a UFC offer, the Russian striker seemed destined for an epic trilogy with Alex Pereira, the ex-UFC light heavyweight king he beat in his last kickboxing match. They’ve got a 1-1 history in GLORY, and with Pereira cageside for Vakhitov’s DWCS win, it felt like fate was cooking up something juicy. But nah, Vakhitov and his team said “thanks, but no thanks” to the UFC, and now he’s gearing up to take on GLORY heavyweight champ Rico Verhoeven in June. Plot twist, anyone?

“Obviously I was delighted to win my fight on DWCS and get offered a contract,” Vakhitov told MMA Fighting. “It was cool that Alex was there, also. It felt like the trilogy fight was very close, just a win or two away. Unfortunately, when it came time to finalize the UFC contract, it became clear that the UFC has strict policies for fighters coming through DWCS. 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.” Real talk from a 33-year-old who knows his worth.

Vakhitov’s no slouch—3-1 in MMA with all wins by KO, plus a kickboxing resume that screams elite. His manager, Andrey Busygin, thought they had a case for a sweeter deal, given the Pereira parallels. “Artem Vakhitov and Alex Pereira had one of the closest rivalries in GLORY, and when the UFC opportunity arose, they both had identical 3-1 records in MMA,” Busygin told MMA Fighting. “Given that, we felt it was reasonable to request that Artem receive the same kind of deal Alex got when he joined the UFC. Seems only fair, we thought. However, 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. But rules are rules, and we understood their stance.” No hard feelings, just business.

So, instead of octagon lights, Vakhitov’s heading back to the kickboxing ring for a dream clash with Verhoeven at GLORY 100 on June 14 in the Netherlands. “This is a fight I’ve wanted for a long time,” Vakhitov said. “I’ve been calling for it since 2017. For years, nobody wanted to fight Rico—he’s called ‘The King’ for a reason, he’s dominated this division for so long. But I’ve always believed I’m the best pound-for-pound kickboxer in GLORY, and that belief hasn’t changed. And now at last the king is finally ready to face the Tsar.” That’s some next-level confidence right there, and GLORY sweetened the pot with a fat paycheck. “GLORY made a really big money offer for this fight and Artem is delighted because he’s wanted this fight since 2017 and now it’s finally happening,” Busygin added. “So the trilogy will have to wait a while it seems.”

Vakhitov’s not slamming the UFC door shut forever, though. “Joining the UFC would have been an incredible opportunity, but the financial terms didn’t make sense for me on the face of other offers which were also coming in,” he said. “So, we had to politely decline. That said, our discussions were respectful, and who knows what the future may bring?” For now, he’s got his sights on dethroning “The King” Verhoeven, and I’m already hyped to see if the Tsar can pull it off. Pereira trilogy? On ice for now, but this detour’s got fireworks written all over it.