TLDR
- Muhammad Mokaev turned down a UFC grappling title shot against Mikey Musumeci because the $10,000 offer came with no guarantee of an MMA contract
- The UFC released Mokaev in July 2024 despite a perfect 7-0 record in the promotion and a win over top-ranked opponent Manel Kape
- Mokaev has fought eight times since leaving UFC, winning all bouts and capturing titles in BRAVE CF and ACBJJ
- The 26-year-old fighter claims UFC executives told him multiple times that meeting certain benchmarks would earn him a new contract
- Mokaev remains undefeated across 40 amateur and professional fights but has not received a UFC MMA contract offer
Sources: yardbarker.com | bbc.com | boxingnews.com
Muhammad Mokaev says he rejected a UFC title opportunity because the promotion refused to guarantee him a return to their MMA roster. The undefeated flyweight told BBC Sport he was offered a grappling match against Mikey Musumeci for the UFC BJJ title but turned it down when officials made clear it would not lead to an MMA contract.
Mokaev left the UFC in July 2024 despite carrying a perfect 7-0 record in the promotion. His final fight was a unanimous decision victory over top-ranked Manel Kape at UFC 304 in Manchester.
UFC president Dana White announced the same night that the organization would not re-sign the Russian-born British fighter. Initial reports suggested that Mokaev’s pre-fight behavior, including physical altercations with Kape at the fighter hotel and weigh-ins, influenced the decision.
Fighter Questions Release After Perfect Record
Mokaev disputes that explanation. He points out that the UFC renewed his contract twice before releasing him.
“If I’m a bad guy, why would you let me fight seven fights and renew my contract twice?” Mokaev told BBC Sport. “If I’m a bad guy in the company and organization, they would cut me after one or two fights.”
🚨MUHAMMAD MOKAEV DROPS A STATEMENT ON HIS PAGE. ‼️
🗣“THEY BASICALLY WASTED TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE.”
🗣“They told my manager I need to stop wrestling we don't want these decision guy.”
🗣“If I'm a bad guy, why would you let me fight seven fights and renew my contract twice?”… pic.twitter.com/BUHaV07wfJ
— FightLuck (@FightluckBet) September 16, 2026
The 26-year-old believes his wrestling-heavy fighting style played a role in the UFC’s decision. He says matchmakers sent his manager a text after his second UFC fight stating “he needs to stop wrestling – we don’t want these decision guys.”
Mokaev won four of his seven UFC fights by finish, including his debut via submission in 58 seconds. His finish rate in the promotion stands at approximately 60 percent.
Only former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson and Alexandre Pantoja have recorded longer winning streaks in the flyweight division than Mokaev’s seven consecutive victories.
Rejected Offer Included No Path Back to MMA
The UFC recently offered Mokaev $10,000 to compete against bantamweight grappling champion Mikey Musumeci in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu match. Mokaev said he was willing to accept the low payday if it included a guarantee of returning to the UFC’s 125-pound division.
“They said, ‘no, this is different. BJJ is different. This is different. We have other plans.’ I told them where to go,” Mokaev said. He admitted his response contained multiple expletives.
Mokaev claims UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell made him promises that specific achievements would earn him a new contract. “Hunter made me a promise. They basically wasted two years of my life,” he told BBC Sport. “That’s how I feel right now. I don’t think what they are doing is right.”
Since leaving the UFC, Mokaev has competed eight times across various promotions. He has won all eight fights, including one submission and three knockouts, and captured titles in both BRAVE CF and ACBJJ.
Mokaev moved to Britain as a refugee when he was 12 years old. He remains undefeated across 40 amateur and professional fights combined.
The fighter says he has received offers from other promotions, including multi-fight deals that would be more lucrative than his UFC contract. The Professional Fighters League offered him a bantamweight contract, though the promotion does not currently have a men’s flyweight division.
Mokaev has chosen to sign only one-fight deals to remain available if the UFC changes its position. He said he would consider a longer PFL contract if the promotion creates a 125-pound division following its merger with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in July.
“I want to stay active because I’m still young. I just turned 26,” Mokaev said. “Most people start their careers at this age. I’m going to do what’s best for my family.”
The UFC has not publicly addressed whether it plans to offer Mokaev an MMA contract. Mokaev remains in a WhatsApp group with UFC matchmakers Hunter Campbell and Sean Shelby but says the promotion keeps moving the goalposts on his potential return.
