Former flyweight contender and UFC cast-off Muhammad Mokaev was sighted on the Saudi Arabia debut of Dana White’s Energy Slap league, however don’t assume meaning we would see him again within the Octagon any time quickly.
Regardless of being 7-0 within the UFC and 11-0 in MMA general, Mokaev fought out his contract and wasn’t supplied a brand new one by the UFC. The one factor he acquired was a stiff kick out the door by UFC CEO Dana White, who declared the promotion was sick of coping with Muhammad and wasn’t focused on working with him any extra.
We don’t know precisely what led to this degree of dislike in direction of Mokaev. Sure, he had two stinkers again to again the place he deployed lay-n-pray to smother his opponents. Sure, he additionally acquired into quite a few outside-the-cage brawls and incidents. However he’s additionally undeniably a prime 5 contender at flyweight.
In the identical post-Energy Slap interview the place White shrugged off Bryce Mitchell’s pro-Hitler feedback, he reiterated that Mokaev was finished with UFC.
That is completely insane. Essentially the most proficient flyweight in MMA interval is Muhammad Mokaev.
He belongs within the premier group…The UFC.
Re-sign him.
pic.twitter.com/dlrAHBdMlR
— JG (@JakeGerberMMA) January 30, 2025
“I didn’t see him or discuss to him,” White mentioned to a reporter asking about Mokaev. “Pay attention, I assumed I made that fairly clear. Sean [Shelby], Hunter [Campbell], and Mick [Maynard] didn’t like working with him. And they didn’t need to re-sign him.”
“He’s a free agent, he could possibly be a world champion some other place. And perhaps they’ll like him higher than Sean, Mick, and Hunter do.”
Mokaev at the moment competes for Courageous CF the place he gained his final bout through D’arce within the first spherical. He may have a couple of extra finishes and a few wealthy Royal patron going to bat for him if he ever desires to make it again into the UFC.
