Muhammad Mokaev continues to show off his talent as one of the best flyweights on Earth.
Back in July 2024, Mokaev unexpectedly fought in his last fight in the UFC, extending his undefeated promotion record to 7-0 with a unanimous decision over Manel Kape that marked the end of his contract with the company. That same night, UFC CEO Dana White wasted little time stating that he wouldn’t be re-signing the then-24-year-old top contender. The problematic nature of some pre-fight antics with Kape didn’t help Mokaev’s case, nor did a wrestling-heavy style that prioritized control over excitement.
Now 25 years old, Mokaev has won three straight bouts since leaving the UFC, most recently claiming the Brave CF flyweight title with a head-kick knockout of Gerard Burns at Brave CF 100 this past Friday. Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Mokaev revealed he spoke with UFC CBO Hunter Campbell and UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard before the Bahrain title fight.
“They wished me luck before the fight. It motivated me like crazy. I was happy all day,” Mokaev told Uncrowned.
“I was so motivated. I was going to the event in the morning, I had a different mood. I’m thinking maybe that’s the day to prove to the world and show the world. And then they just congratulated me after the fight. I’m just happy even to just stay in touch with them, that’s better than nothing.”
Mokaev (16-0, 1 NC) glowed as he spoke about the positive words from his former employers. He recalled past moments in his career, remembering differences in his mentality and how this time against Burns, with the knowledge that UFC executives were watching, it was a matter of a good mood equating to a dangerous Mokaev in the cage.
As soon as Mokaev’s UFC run ended in 2024, he made it clear he still wanted to be in the promotion. That sentiment has only strengthened in the 16 months since. All the wins he’s accumulated since his saga against Kape, he admitted, are simply to get him back to where he was.
“If I say no, I would lie,” Mokaev said with a smile. “I just want to be the best in the world. Right now, I believe I’m the best in the world. But by the results on the table, the only guy to prove that [against] is [Alexandre] Pantoja. That’s the only name I’m missing on my record.”
With an undefeated record and a hit-list that already features multiple top-ranked UFC contenders, Mokaev could very easily have been a justified title challenger for the the UFC’s dominant flyweight champion, Pantoja, after his final Octagon win. Instead, he captured the Brave title in the interim, and continues to watch from the outside looking in as Pantoja prepares for Joshua Van on Dec. 7 at UFC 323.
Mokaev expects the seasoned grappling game of Pantoja to be too much for the talented, young Van. And while a fight with the winner is Mokaev’s ideal goal, he remains open to exploring other opportunities against names like former Bellator champion and current PFL bantamweight Sergio Pettis.
Pettis, in particular, is someone Mokaev would love to challenge himself against. He just doesn’t want it to get in the way of his potential UFC return.
“I would like to fight Sergio Pettis. That’s one of the fights I would like to compete, but I just don’t want to get locked in [a contract],” Mokaev said.
“I called [my manager] Tim [Simpson] like two hours ago. I said, ‘Do you think that fight can happen?’ He said, ‘They might lock you in a contract,’ so the only reason some big fights are not going on is because of my dream [to return to the UFC], and I don’t want to get locked in.”
Until Mokaev gets that call, he plans to stay as busy as possible. That means competing in more avenues than just MMA. Ultimately, time is on the flyweight’s side, so why not check off all the boxes possible?
“I’ll probably compete in RAF (Real American Freestyle). … I would like to wrestle there,” he said.
“I think January I will compete [with them]. Then also, Karate Combat offered me a fight for the belt. I just want to stay crazy busy. Whatever side quest there is, I’m in.”