Muhammad Mokaev News

Harry Kettle - November 11, 2025

MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has praised flyweight star Muhammad Mokaev and thinks he’s heading back to the UFC. For the longest time now, Muhammad Mokaev has been viewed as an incredibly exciting prospect at flyweight. During his time with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it certainly seemed as if he was building his way towards a title shot. Alas, in the end, that didn’t quite come to fruition, and he was instead released following his big win over Manel Kape.

Harry Kettle - October 30, 2025

Former UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev has voiced his frustration at how he was perceived at the end of his run with the promotion. Last year, Muhammad Mokaev was considered to be one of the most intriguing prospects in all of mixed martial arts. He was doing some incredible things in the UFC’s flyweight division, and it seemed like just a matter of time before he received a world title shot at 125 pounds.

Curtis Calhoun - October 9, 2025

Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev will face a surging prospect for the Brave CF 125lb championship. Muhammad Mokaev will meet surging flyweight star Gerard Burns in the Brave CF 100 main event on November 7th. Mokaev and Burns will fight for the men’s flyweight championship in a massive showdown to mark the promotion’s 100th event.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 25, 2025

One former UFC flyweight thinks he knows who has what it takes to dethrone Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja has been the reigning UFC titleholder at 125 pounds since July 2023 when he defeated Brandon Moreno via split decision. He has had three successful title defenses. The Brazilian bruiser will look to thwart the challenge of Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 on June 28.

Josh Evanoff - March 27, 2025

Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev is now a member of Karate Combat. ‘The Punisher’ was once viewed as the UFC’s brightest young prospects. Signing with the organization in 2022 with an undefeated record, Muhammad Mokaev quickly found success. He scored a first-round submission win over Cody Durden in his promotional debut, and he never looked back. Over the next two years, the Brit scored lopsided victories over names such as Tim Elliott, Alex Perez, and Charles Johnson.

Josh Evanoff - February 19, 2025

Undefeated flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev is still focused on a return to the UFC. ‘The Punisher’ became one of the UFC’s most-hyped prospects at 125 pounds starting in 2022. Holding an undefeated 6-0 record, Muhammad Mokaev quickly notched wins over the likes of Charles Johnson, Tim Elliott, and Alex Perez. His winning streak earned him a crack at fellow contender Manel Kape last summer at UFC 304 in Manchester.

Josh Evanoff - December 13, 2024

Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev is back on the right track. ‘The Punisher’ is in an incredibly strange spot in his career. Having joined the UFC in early 2022, the young flyweight quickly found success. Over the next two years, Muhammad Mokaev racked up seven straight wins over the likes of Alex Perez, Tim Elliott, Charles Johnson, and more. However, after his decision victory over Manel Kape in July, he was released from the UFC.

Chris Taylor - August 24, 2024

Muhammad Mokaev has found a new home following his nasty split with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Mokaev (13-0 MMA) fought out his contract at last month’s UFC 304 event in Manchester, scoring a lackluster decision win over Manel Kape.

Harry Kettle - August 22, 2024

PFL has seemingly changed their tune on the idea of signing former UFC flyweight star Muhammad Mokaev. Over the course of the last few weeks, Muhammad Mokaev has had to do some serious self-reflection. Despite his win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, he was released from his contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Then, when PFL’s Ray Sefo was asked about the idea of signing him, he swiftly turned it down.

Curtis Calhoun - August 14, 2024

UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France believes Muhammad Mokaev got what he deserved after recently being cut by the promotion. Kara-France will face former UFC flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg in the UFC 305 co-main event this Saturday in Perth. After more than a year away from the cage, Kara-France returns looking to snap a two-fight losing skid.

Susan Cox - August 14, 2024

UFC CEO Dana White is responding to Muhammad Mokaev’s offer for one free fight. Muhammad Mokaev (13-0 MMA) is riding high after his latest victory over Manel Kape (19-7 MMA) just last month at UFC 304.

Curtis Calhoun - August 12, 2024

Former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev has found a new home after the promotion opted to part ways. Mokaev defeated Manel Kape by unanimous decision in what turned out to be his UFC finale at UFC 304 last month. Immediately after the event, UFC CEO Dana White expressed disinterest in re-signing Mokaev and encouraged the PFL to take a look at the unbeaten free agent.

Harry Kettle - August 8, 2024

MMA analyst Chael Sonnen believes Muhammad Mokaev is doing all the right things to be re-signed by the UFC. As we know, Muhammad Mokaev is no longer signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This is despite his undefeated record, and despite the fact he defeated Manel Kape in his last outing at UFC 304. The rumor mill has suggested that it’s due to his poor attitude – and his fight week brawl against Kape’s team wouldn’t have helped.

Curtis Calhoun - August 7, 2024

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling thinks the promotion made a significant error in releasing Muhammad Mokaev. Mokaev defeated Manel Kape by unanimous decision at UFC 304 last month in Manchester. The win moved him to 13-0 in his career, and at the time, moved him one step closer to a flyweight title shot.

Harry Kettle - August 5, 2024

Muhammad Mokaev has offered to take a free fight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in order to return to the promotion. As we know, Muhammad Mokaev has had a busy few weeks. He got involved in a brawl during UFC 304 fight week, defeated Manel Kape, called for a title shot, and was then wasn’t re-signed by the promotion.

Harry Kettle - August 3, 2024

PFL president Ray Sefo has explained why the promotion isn’t interested in signing former UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev. Last weekend, Muhammad Mokaev managed to defeat Manel Kape in a tight flyweight collision at UFC 304. From there, the expectation was that he would go on to receive a UFC flyweight championship opportunity. Instead, though, Dana White revealed that they would not be offering him a new contract with the promotion.

Harry Kettle - July 31, 2024

UFC fighter Jake Hadley has called out Muhammad Mokaev for his actions during UFC 304 fight week. As we know, Muhammad Mokaev has had an interesting week. He got involved in a brawl with Manel Kape and his team, defeated Kape at UFC 304, and was then released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. There are allegations that he had been negotiating with PFL while still being signed to UFC, but this has been rejected by Mokaev’s camp.

Josh Evanoff - July 30, 2024

No, former UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev hasn’t spoken with the PFL. ‘The Punisher’ returned to the cage over the weekend on the UFC 304 prelims. Back for the first time since a unanimous decision victory over Alex Perez in March, the flyweight was set for a grudge match with Manel Kape. Muhammad Mokaev and ‘Starboy’ had verbally attacked each other in the build-up to the fight, and even brawled during fight week.