Mokaev Rips UFC Over Broken Promise, Lowball BJJ Offer
Muhammad Mokaev says the UFC wasted two years of his career with broken promises and a lowball BJJ offer instead of a real contract.
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Muhammad Mokaev says the UFC wasted two years of his career by stringing him along with promises of a return that never materialized. In a new interview, the former UFC flyweight said a person he identified only as "Hunter" made him a promise the promotion did not keep, and that a recent offer to compete under the UFC's BJJ banner came with no path back to the roster.
What Did Mokaev Say About The UFC's Promise?
Mokaev said he was told all he had to do was keep winning and the door back to the UFC would open. "Hunter made me a promise," Mokaev said. "They basically wasted two years of my life. That's how I feel right now. I don't think what they are doing is right." Since leaving the UFC in 2024, Mokaev has fought eight times, picking up a submission win, three knockouts and the BRAVE FC belt along the way, results that in his view should have been enough to earn a new contract.
Why Did The UFC Cut Mokaev In The First Place?
Mokaev arrived in the UFC as a hyped prospect but his stock cooled as he worked his way up the flyweight rankings, with matchmakers reportedly pushing him away from wrestling-heavy performances toward finishes. His final fight on the contract, a lackluster clash with Manel Kape that followed multiple off-camera altercations between the two, effectively closed the door. Reports that Mokaev was in talks with the PFL before his UFC deal expired only hardened the promotion's stance, with UFC CEO Dana White publicly saying the PFL could have him.
The BJJ Offer That Fell Short
Mokaev said the UFC recently floated $10,000 for him to grapple BJJ champion Mikey Musumeci under the promotion's jiu-jitsu banner, but the offer did not include any guarantee of a return to the UFC's MMA roster. "They said, 'No, this is different. BJJ is different. This is different. We have other plans,'" Mokaev said. "I told them where to go."
Betting Angle
With no UFC deal on the table, Mokaev remains a free agent asset for any promotion willing to move fast, and his BRAVE FC title reign gives him leverage he didn't have as a UFC prospect stuck fighting cautiously up the rankings. For bettors, that means Mokaev's next fight (wherever it lands) is worth watching as a value spot: a motivated, finish-hungry Mokaev looks like a different fighter than the one who ground out decisions late in his UFC run. Until a promotion and opponent are confirmed, there's no line to price, but expect books to install him as a solid favorite whenever he does return given his finishing rate outside the UFC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Muhammad Mokaev say about the UFC?
Muhammad Mokaev said the UFC wasted two years of his career after promising him a return that never happened, calling the situation unfair following his release in 2024.
Why did the UFC release Muhammad Mokaev?
Muhammad Mokaev's UFC run ended after a string of increasingly cautious performances, capped by a lackluster fight with Manel Kape, with reports of PFL talks also souring his standing with the promotion.
Did the UFC offer Muhammad Mokaev a new deal?
The UFC reportedly offered Muhammad Mokaev $10,000 to compete under its BJJ banner against Mikey Musumeci, but the offer did not include a guaranteed return to the UFC's MMA roster.
