Mohammad Mokaev hasn’t stopped chasing UFC gold, despite being on the outside looking in.
The undefeated flyweight exited the UFC in 2024 after beating Manel Kape via unanimous decision, a fight that turned out to be the final one on his contract. While many expected the promotion to re-sign him, especially given his spotless record and young age, UFC CEO Dana White made it clear Mokaev wasn’t in the company’s plans.
“I was fighting on my last fight deal of my contract against Manel, so it all depended on my performance,” Mokaev said during an appearance on Demetrious Johnson’s YouTube channel. “Basically, Mick Maynard is the matchmaker of the UFC flyweight division, and he asked Dana to keep the division, but he wanted more exciting fighters. For the UFC, that means strikers, guys who get finishes.”
Mokaev, just 23 at the time, had already fought seven times in two years, with four of those bouts against ranked opponents. But as the workload piled on, the performances began to dip.
“The more I fought, the less performance I showed. You just get tired of it. I started strong, but I lost the hunger. My whole mindset was just on Pantoja, the title, nothing else. So I didn’t care if I won by decision, I just wanted to reach the belt.”
The UFC didn’t share that perspective. For them, the Kape fight lacked excitement, and that was the tipping point. Mokaev believes a knockout would’ve secured him a lucrative deal, but the win didn’t come with fireworks.
“If I had knocked Manel out, they definitely would’ve signed me and given me the best deal, but I didn’t finish him, and they didn’t re-sign me.”
Although some believed Mokaev’s rocky relationship with Kape, including a physical altercation during fight week played a role in the UFC’s decision, the fighter himself insists it wasn’t the main issue.
“It wasn’t about the stuff with Kape outside the hotel. It didn’t help, but it wasn’t the reason. It was all about the performance. I don’t think it’s fair. We’re martial artists. I was 23 years old, 7-0 in the UFC, and they expected flying knees every fight. Sometimes the fight is ugly, it depends on the opponent.”
Mokaev’s exit stunned fans and pundits alike. He had two UFC Performance of the Night bonuses and looked like a future title challenger. However, with entertainment value driving contract talks, his grappling-heavy style wasn’t enough.
Since leaving the UFC, Mohammad Mokaev has kept busy. He picked up two wins in Brace FC and competed once under the Karate Combat banner. At 25, he’s still undefeated and believes it’s only a matter of time before he’s back on the big stage.
“I think I’m going to win a couple more fights, and I want to sit down with the UFC and talk. I believe there’s still a chance for me to come back and take the belt. I’m not saying I’ll run through Pantoja—he’s one of the toughest—but I’ve trained with him and I don’t see anything special.”
Despite his free agency status, Mokaev has avoided binding contracts with other promotions. His loyalty to MMA, he says, is personal.
“I never signed a paper outside of the UFC. No one-fight deal, no two-fight deal,nothing. Just me, good relationships, and loyalty. I show up, make weight, and fight. They know I’m a man of my word. Thirty-eight fights, never pulled out, never missed weight.”
The Brit remains grounded. With multiple business investments outside fighting, money isn’t his main motivation.
“Main thing from my side is to get better, stay active, in training, in competition, on the media. Most fighters get cut and disappear. I’m not built like that. In my head, everything is possible. I just want to do everything so I don’t regret anything when I turn 30.”
For now, Mohammad Mokaev continues to fight and wait. Undefeated, unbroken, and unfinished business with the UFC.
