ABU DHABI – Muhammad Mokaev still has faith that he’ll make his way back to the UFC.
Despite improving to 7-0 in the octagon with a win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, the UFC opted not to re-sign Mokaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC). Dana White announced the news in harsh fashion during the post-fight news conference.
As an undefeated fighter on the cusp of flyweight title contention, Mokaev knew something was off when he wasn’t offered a new contract during his UFC deal.
“I was feeling this because it was my last fight on the contract. I was feeling something not going right,” Mokaev told MMA Junkie. “I don’t think it’s because of what happened between me and Manel at the hotel because usually they change the contract not on the last fight, maybe like two fights left. But I was on my last fight, and I asked for a new contract, I couldn’t get it, and I felt something was going on.”
Mokaev thinks the UFC’s decision came because of a mix of things – his behavior, which included multiple altercations with Kape, as well as his fighting style. He has since signed with BRAVE CF, his home prior to joining the UFC.
“I’ve been told I need to have more finishes inside the octagon,” Mokaev said. “But I’m 7-0, four finishes, I was 23 years old, I don’t know what else? I cannot get seven out of seven. I tried my best. I came out from all big injuries, still competing, still accepting the big names. Now in the UFC, I have five fighters who I beat, all in top 15, and I think I just need to sit down and speak to Dana.
“I spoke to Hunter (Campbell) straight after what happened in Manchester. He said, ‘We will see you back in the UFC,’ but maybe they want to see me mature more outside the octagon, but whatever happened, I’m ready to come back now. I’m fighting in BRAVE, so whenever they call me, I’m ready. I want to become UFC champion, and I knew I could because I was very, very close to it.”
Mokaev, who competes in Friday’s ADXC 6 event when he takes on fellow ex-UFC fighter Rogerio Bontorin in a no-gi grappling match, hopes he can call the octagon his home again next year.
“I think one or two fights,” Mokaev said. “I think that’s the amount of fights that I need to do, but I just want to stay busy.”
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