Muhammad
Mokaev just wants to fight for
Ultimate Fighting Championship gold and is not concerned about
how much he is paid to do it.
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Mokaev takes on Angolan contender Manel Kape
at UFC 304
in Manchester, England, on Saturday. Mokaev revealed that his
upcoming bout is the last one on his current UFC contract.
Mokaev doesn’t have any expectations for his expected contract
renewal, and “The Punisher” is willing to have a one-fight contract
if that accelerates his path to a title shot.
Mokaev reiterated his grouse with Steve Erceg
getting the last flyweight title shot against Alexandre
Pantoja after just three fights in the promotion. Mokaev notes
that he didn’t receive the gold bid despite having more finishes in
the UFC than “Astro Boy” had total fights in the promotion
then.
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Mokaev now just wants a title shot as soon as possible and claims
his fight purse isn’t a concern. The Dagestani-born Brit even
claims that fighter pay has never been a concern for him despite
being one of the lowest-paid fighters on the roster.
“I’m on last fight [of my deal] with UFC,” Mokaev told MMA Today on Sirius XM. “This is my last fight on
contract, and I need to put on good performance to negotiate the
new contract. It depends on my performance also.
“I want to chase the gold, and I hope the UFC give me a contract… I
just want to fight for the belt. Even if they give me one more
fight after this. I already look, like they gave Erceg [the title
shot after] three fight. I have six fights. I already have more
finishes in UFC than Erceg [has] fights in UFC. But they give him
opportunity instead of me. So, it doesn’t matter if I fight them
now or when I’m gonna defend the belt, I’m gonna face them anyway.
And it doesn’t matter to me about money. I never negotiate about
money with UFC. I’m on one of the lowest payment out of fighters
right now and I never, never ask for much on the fight and get my
name out there.”