Mohammed Mokaev finds himself in the unenviable position of trying to change the mind of UFC CEO Dana White.
Mokaev fulfilled his UFC contract last weekend with a lackluster win over rival Manel Kape at UFC 304. The fight was full of excitement in the lead up to UFC 304, including a violent hotel clash, but Mokaev and Kape failed to live up to expectations on fight day.
White then alluded to “the awful things that have happened behind the scenes” over the “past few months” rather than Mokaev's fighting style as the main reason UFC matchmakers “don't want to re-sign him.”
“I think the PFL is going to get a great undefeated fighter,” White said.
On Tuesday's X show, Mokaev apologised for instigating a hotel brawl between him and Cape's team in Manchester.
It was the first time I'd ever punched outside the cage. It was more personal.
It was him who headbutted me when we went to shake hands in Las Vegas five days before the Perez fight!
I understand what happened at the hotel was wrong and I apologize to the UFC, but some nights…— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) July 30, 2024
It was the first time I'd ever punched outside the cage. It was more personal.
It was him who headbutted me when we went to shake hands in Las Vegas five days before the Perez fight!
“I understand what happened at the hotel was wrong and I apologize to UFC, but it's given me sleepless nights that someone treated me that way. I've never been treated badly on the street.”I don't let anyone bully me and I have never bullied anyone but what happened happened and I don't want to dwell on it any more but I will learn a big lesson.
Adding further to the drama is the fact that Mokaev's apology came just hours after Mokaev's manager, Tim Simpson, responded to unsubstantiated reports that White's announcement after UFC 304 was motivated because Simpson was in negotiations with PFL while Mokaev was still under contract with UFC, telling MMA Fighting's Damon Martin that it was a “total lie.”
This put Mokaev in a position to publicly petition for office.
My dream is to become a UFC champion.
I turned them all down because UFC gave me a platform to get my name out there and make money to support my family.
By the way, there is no flyweight division in the PFL.
All journalists who make up crap like this are idiots!I hope Dana makes me quit this… https://t.co/ArCTIF9Wwy
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) July 30, 2024
My dream is to become a UFC champion.
I turned them all down because UFC gave me a platform to get my name out there and make money to support my family.
By the way, there is no flyweight division in the PFL.
All journalists who make up crap like this are idiots!I hope Dana re-signs with me. It's my dream to become champion!
The 24-year-old Mokaev signed with UFC in 2022 as a 5-0 pro and continues to improve, picking up seven wins at UFC to improve his record to 12-0. He's worked his way up the 125-pound rankings with wins over Cody Darden, Charles Johnson, Malcolm Gordon, Jafer Filho, Tim Elliott and Alex Perez prior to UFC 304, but a title fight may not be on the cards if White keeps his promise.
For more on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 304 event hub.
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