The Ultimate Fighting Championship has enough with
flyweight contender Muhammad
Mokaev.
Mokaev (13-0, 1 NC) defeated Manel Kape
(19-7) in his adopted home country of England on Saturday, picking
up a less-than-stellar decision win over his bitter rival. Ahead of
UFC 304, the flyweights had brewed plenty of bad blood between
them, even getting into multiple scuffles prior to their actual
fight. However, that aggression was nowhere to be found once the
Octagon doors closed, with referee Mike Beltran even calling for
more action in the opening frame. The UFC brass was not impressed
by his performance, and even less so by his conduct behind the
scenes.
Advertisement
Approaching this event in Manchester, England, Mokaev revealed that
the bout with Kape was the last fight on his UFC contract. While he
hoped it would be renewed, he claimed that UFC matchmakers were not
a fan of his grappling-heavy style and allegedly told him that his
re-signing hinged on his UFC 304 performance. While Mokaev admitted
his win over Kape was far from thrilling, the 23-year-old claimed
to have done his best against a “grown man.”
“They said they’re going to see how I perform,” the youngster
proclaimed at the UFC 304
post-fight press conference. “They don’t want to see me keep
shooting and taking somebody down. But I’ve done what I could do
tonight…They don’t like this [grappling-based style]. They tried to
get rid of flyweights before and they don’t want this kind of
fight. But, listen, I’m young, I’m still not in my prime. If they
want me to stand and bang, toe-to-toe with these 30-year-old grown
men, I have to do what’s best for me to win.”
UFC head Dana White dismissed the notion that a promotion official
specifically demanded Mokaev fight a certain way to keep his job,
noting that the UFC has been in business for years while alluding
to the point that such an admission would be antithetical to the
company’s operation. Still, White suggested that Mokaev’s fighting
style was not overly impressive, while also stating that many
fighters over the years have brought similar styles. White then
hinted at untold issues between Mokaev and UFC brass that might
have led to Mokaev’s unplanned free agency.
“Yeah, the matchmakers aren’t big fans of his for many different
reasons, and not just because [of his fighting style], there’s a
lot of people who shoot takedowns in this in this business. A lot
of guys that fight with that type of style, but it’s a lot more
than just that…He’s not under contract anymore. I think the
[Professional Fighters League] is going to get a
great, undefeated guy. Good luck to him,” White explained.
Mokaev’s conclusion as a UFC fighter was further confirmed by a
notice provided
to media members who vote on the UFC rankings, writing,
“[Mokaev] has completed the last fight on his contract and will not
be re-signed.”
Mokaev ends his tenure on the roster with the second-lengthiest win
streak in UFC flyweight history, as the winner of all seven of his
bouts in the Octagon. On his way up the 125-pound ladder, “The
Punisher” finished names including Cody
Durden, Tim Elliott
and Malcolm
Gordon. Mokaev has not lost in 37 straight fights, amateur and
pro combined, and pointed
this out on Sunday morning.