Mokaev vows UFC return after release despite seven straight wins

Muhammad Mokaev says he remains perplexed after the UFC released him despite a seven-fight winning streak that culminated in a unanimous decision over Manuel Kape at UFC 304 in Manchester in July 2024. UFC president Dana White announced later that night the promotion would not be re-signing him, and it has been more than two years since his release.

Mokaev, who moved to Britain as a refugee when he was 12 years old, had compiled an unbeaten record of 40 fights across amateur and professional competition before leaving the UFC. He won his promotional debut by submission in 58 seconds and followed that with a unanimous decision over Charles Johnson. Mokaev says the organisation texted his manager after the Johnson victory saying "he needs to stop wrestling - we don't want these decision guy" and believes his wrestling-heavy approach contributed to the decision to let him go. "If we talk about behaviour, right - if I'm a bad guy, why would you let me fight seven fights and renew my contract twice?" Mokaev told BBC Sport.

Since departing the UFC, Mokaev has remained highly active, competing eight times over the past two years and finishing opponents with chokes, body kicks, head kicks and punches. He has also won titles in BRAVE CF and ACBJJ while compiling a string of finishes. "I have around a 60% finish rate in the UFC. Four out of seven fights were finishes against top guys," Mokaev said.

Despite that activity and success, Mokaev says he has not been able to secure a route back through UFC matchmakers Hunter Campbell, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby. He remains in a WhatsApp group with Campbell and Shelby but says communications have fallen short of promises made. "Hunter made me a promise. They basically wasted two years of my life," Mokaev explained. "That's how I feel right now. I don't think what they are doing is right."

Mokaev also described an offer from the UFC to compete in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu event against bantamweight champion Mikey Musumeci for $10,000 (£7,399), an amount he found insulting. He said he would have been willing to take the match if a UFC contract had followed, but that the promotion responded: "They said, 'no, this is different. BJJ is different. This is different. We have other plans.' I told them where to go," said Mokaev, who admitted his response to the UFC contained several expletives.

The current flyweight title picture features Joshua Van, who became the first UFC champion born in the 2000s when he beat Alexandre Pantoja in December, and Mokaev points to that as part of his grievance. Only Demetrious Johnson (13) and Pantoja (eight) have recorded longer winning streaks in the flyweight division than Mokaev's seven. "The way I'm going to compete and keep winning, eventually they're going to send me there," he said. "Back then I said, 'the best fight the best.' But it doesn't matter what happens with the situation, I think I'm the best flyweight in the world and I deserve to fight the best."

Mokaev has chosen to sign one-fight deals rather than accept multi-fight contracts offered since 2024, and he says he will only consider longer deals if the UFC's stance changes. One multi-fight offer came from the PFL to fight at bantamweight because the promotion does not currently run a men's flyweight division; Mokaev said he would be tempted to sign if the PFL created a 125-pound division following its merger with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions in July. "I want to stay active because I'm still young. I just turned 26. Most people start their careers at this age," he said. "I'm going to do what's best for my family."

Joshua Van will defend his flyweight title in a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday. For Mokaev, who says he will keep competing while seeking a route back, the bout represents the immediate state of the division he aims to re-enter.