The former flyweight contender’s time with the UFC ended abruptly, leading to a fractured relationship between him and the promotion.
In 2022, the UFC signed rising flyweight star Muhamad Mokaev, who entered the organization with considerable excitement surrounding his potential. Starting off strong, “The Punisher” secured an impressive six-fight winning streak, quickly establishing himself as a top contender in the 125-pound division. Despite this momentum, it was surprisingly announced that Mokaev was released from the UFC even after his 2024 victory over Manel Kape.
Following his release, UFC president Dana White revealed that the decision was influenced by matchmakers who found Mokaev difficult to work with behind the scenes. Nonetheless, Mokaev, now 25, has demonstrated continued excellence in the cage by winning three more MMA fights and reclaiming the BRAVE CF flyweight championship. Though no longer under UFC contract, supporters remain optimistic that Mokaev may return to the world’s premier MMA promotion in the future.
Recently, Mokaev shared exciting news about a new opportunity: he has been offered a chance to compete in UFC BJJ, the UFC’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition. Launched in June of the previous year through Meta Apex, UFC BJJ features high-level grapplers, with Mikey Moussi currently holding the UBJJ title following his victory and subsequent title defense. Moussi is set to defend against Shay Montague on February 12th at UFC BJJ 5. Mokaev posted on X, “I’ve been offered a fight against Mikey Moussi for the UFC BJJ belt. What do you guys think?” However, it’s unclear whether the bout is set for this Thursday or later.
Could this new path in UFC BJJ be Mokaev’s gateway back to competing under the UFC banner? At 25, he is keen to mend his ties with the UFC and return to fighting in the organization. This opportunity could serve as the perfect platform for Mokaev to prove he has matured and is ready to rejoin the promotion on better terms.
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Fan Take: This development is exciting for fight fans because it shows a unique route for fighters to rebuild their UFC careers through alternative competitive platforms like UFC BJJ. If Mokaev succeeds, it could pave the way for other athletes to redeem themselves and enhance the sport’s depth and storytelling.
