Muhammad MOKAEV continues to be outside by looking after his career trajectory took a major success in 2024 when the UFC refused to re-signate him following his victory over Manel Kape at the UFC 304 .
The competitor of the fly weights was 7-0 in his UFC race and probably at the dawn of a title shot. However, a lot of bad blood was involved in his Kape match, and then the CEO of the UFC, Dana White, alluded to Bouffonneries before the fight are a problem And that to make Mokaev walk more easily.
Speaking on Wednesday on “The Ariel Helwani Show” almost seven months after separation, Mokaev declared that he was still not sure of the complete history concerning the decision of the UFC, although he clarified that the rumor of starting him with negotiations with the PFL while being under the UFC contract was not TRUE.
“Maybe there is bad communication between my team and the UFC,” said Mokaev. “People said,” He was talking to PFL “, which I have never done. Could do, and I think no one did my team.
“Maybe my style was not as exciting as they wanted to see it. Of course, I do my best to improve myself. Even now, I come to Thailand to improve my boxing skills. Of course, of course, They want to see the protruding facts – which, protruding brings money for the company.
Mokaev, 24, went to social networks several times since he left the UFC to express his hopes for a return. Although he directed comments on White, a conversation has not yet been obtained with his former boss, although Mokaev said he had spoken to the UFC CBO Hunter Campbell and to the Mick Maynard wallet.
Mokaev said there was an opening to remove White aside during a recent PowerSlap event in Abu Dhabi, but he abstained, because the undefeated fly weight did not want to be too aggressive or boring.
“I spoke to Hunter,” said Mokaev. “He didn’t say,” You never come back to the UFC. “He said,” Maybe as one or two fights, and we will come back to negotiations. “Maybe they want to see me with confidence in my strike.
“Dana is always good; each time I see him, he is always good with me. Maybe he is not aware of the situation (full). I don’t understand, I don’t know how the Company works, I’m still new.
Although the initial rumor of the PFL could have been false, Mokaev said that the promotion was still approached to assess his interest after split. A championship also offered him a six -fighting contract, said Mokaev.
He refused both.
“They recently called me about the 135 (-pp) tournament,” said Mokaev about the PFL. “I said no, respectfully, I appreciate the offer. We have a lot of common friends in Dubai.
“My dream is to be the best in the world to fight, and if the UFC said:” Listen, this guy never comes back, he is prohibited from the UFC “, as Dana said about Paul Daley, I would say: “Ok, it’s it. (But) There is no (indication) that they will never bring me back.
More often than not, domination was the name of the game for Mokaev during his undefeated career in 15 fights. His professional race MMA started in Brave CF in 2020, and now he is back with the promotion after submitting JoeVincent, so with a Brabo Stark in the first round last December in his first post-SUFC fight.
There are worse places to be in the landscape than that of Mokaev. Unlike most regional MMA contracts, Mokaev said he earned more money And To the freedom to return to the UFC if the call arrives.
“I was sitting in a VIP box in Abu Dhabi with Sheikh Khaled, the Prince of Bahrain,” said Mokaev. “He (he asked me:” Where do you want to fight? “There were options like other organizations and there are courageous CFs, which he has. Last fight, I have him said this, and he said, “You will (you will get) three times more in this organization.
“(Money) still doesn’t make me happy because my dream is the best in the world. My dream has always been like that. Even if I am paid again 10 times more, my dream is more – for me (the ) Price (to be the best in the world) is more than money.
If Mokaev had stayed with the UFC and had received a title shot, a date with the title champion of the Sweets Alexandre Pantoja would have been in barrels. Instead, Pantoja recently marked a third defense of the successful title by submitting Kai Asakura with a back in the second round at the UFC 310.
Several fighters shared their reflections on the departure of Mokaev, notably the next challenger of the UFC title, Kai Kara-France, who called Mokaev “boring” on “The Ariel Helwani Show” in December.
Mokaev respects Kara-France as a fighter, but does not like her chances against the champion,
“I am the only guy to be able to beat Pantoja right now in this division,” said Mokaev.
“Kai Kara-France is a big fighter. I think he has a good shot, but Pantoja is like a dog, he has no striking skills, I would say. He’s right to fight. He’s difficult to stop pressure. “
(Tagstranslate) Muhammad Mokaev (T) UFC (T) Dana White
