Muhammad
Mokaev believes the
Ultimate Fighting Championship is unfairly damaging fighters’
careers.
The UFC has drawn criticism for declining to renew the contracts of
fighters on winning streaks. Mokaev claims some athletes have been
warned to change their wrestling-heavy styles or risk losing their
roster spots, raising questions about the fairness and competitive
implications of such an approach.
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Muhammad Mokaev questions UFC wrestling warnings and Dana
White’s remarks after Farid Basharat exit
Farid
Basharat (16-0) recently completed his contract and wasn’t
offered a new deal despite going 7-0 in the promotion. UFC CEO
Dana
White suggested that difficulties with matchmakers or declined
fights could explain such departures without identifying a specific
incident involving Basharat. Mokaev believes those comments can
damage fighters’ reputations and prospects after leaving the
UFC.
The former UFC fighter questioned whether warnings about fighting
styles improperly influence competition. He also urged the
promotion to avoid making disparaging claims about departing
athletes.
“When fighters are getting phone calls from bosses telling them,
‘If you keep wrestling like that, you’re going to get cut,’ then
you’re basically telling fighters how you want them to fight. At
what point does that cross the line?” Mokaev posted on X. “Isn’t
that influencing the competition? And if you want to release a
fighter, fine. But don’t then publicly say he was ‘hard to deal
with’ or create some bullsh*t narrative about him that could damage
his reputation and make other organizations think twice about
signing him. Release fighters if you want. Just don’t try to damage
their careers on the way out.”
Mokaev (17-0, 1 NC) left the UFC after the promotion declined to
renew his contract following a victory over Manel Kape
in July 2024. The unbeaten former UFC flyweight has since earned
four victories outside the organization.
when fighters are getting phone calls from
bosses telling them, “If you keep wrestling like that, you’re going
to get cut,” then you’re basically telling fighters how you want
them to fight. At what point does that cross the line? Isn’t that
influencing the competition? And if you want to release a fighter,
fine. But don’t then publicly say he was “hard to deal with” or
create some bullshit narrative about him that could damage his
reputation and make other organizations think twice about signing
him. Release fighters if you want. Just don’t try to damage their
careers on the way out— Muhammad
Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev)
October 20, 2026