Mokaev Says TKO, Paramount, Not Dana White, Behind UFC Cuts

Muhammad Mokaev says TKO and Paramount, not Dana White, are responsible for the UFC declining to re-sign unbeaten fighters like Farid Basharat.

Mokaev fired off the claim on X after White addressed Basharat's exit at the UFC Edmonton postfight news conference. White suggested that issues with matchmakers or declined fights can explain why a fighter with a perfect record doesn't get a new contract, though he did not point to any specific incident involving Basharat, who left the promotion at 7-0.

"They can't give a reason. Only thing they gotta say is 'the matchmakers can't deal with him.' Total bullsh*t answer. Still I don't blame Dana, I blame Paramount and TKO," Mokaev wrote.

Why Mokaev Is Speaking Up Now

Muhammad Mokaev has lived this exact script. He finished his own UFC run with a win over Manel Kape in July 2024, pushing his promotional record to 7-0, and the UFC still chose not to re-sign him. White cited behind-the-scenes issues at the time, while Mokaev has maintained that matchmakers were wary of booking him because of his grappling-heavy, hard-to-watch style. That history is why his reaction to the Basharat situation carries weight. He's not a bystander complaining about someone else's release, he's describing a pattern he says he was the first to go through.

Michael Page, who went 5-1 in the UFC, was also let go without a new deal, adding to a run of winning fighters being moved on from rather than retained. Mokaev's point is that the common thread in these cases isn't matchmaking friction or individual fighter conduct, it's a corporate decision coming from above White's office.

What It Means Competitively

The pattern Mokaev is describing matters for how fighters and fans read roster moves going forward. If winning records and clean losses aren't enough to guarantee a renewal, then the market for undefeated or near-undefeated fighters inside the UFC becomes less predictable. Prospects building unbeaten streaks, the exact kind of resume that normally sets up pay-per-view pushes and title runs, may increasingly look at Basharat, Page and Mokaev as cautionary tales rather than blueprints.

For bettors, the takeaway is less about any single fight line and more about roster stability. Win streaks have traditionally been the clearest signal for tracking a fighter's rising value and shortening title odds. If promotable, undefeated fighters can still be cut loose for business reasons that have nothing to do with performance, that signal gets noisier. Anyone leaning on "undefeated in the UFC" as a simple proxy for upward momentum, whether in futures markets or matchup pricing, should factor in that a clean record alone isn't a guarantee of job security, let alone title positioning, inside the promotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Muhammad Mokaev say about UFC exits?

Muhammad Mokaev said he blames TKO and Paramount, not UFC CEO Dana White, for the promotion declining to re-sign winning fighters such as Farid Basharat.

Why did Farid Basharat leave the UFC?

Farid Basharat was not offered a new UFC contract despite going 7-0 in the promotion, and Dana White did not cite a specific incident for the decision.

Did Muhammad Mokaev leave the UFC under similar circumstances?

Yes, Muhammad Mokaev finished his UFC run 7-0 after beating Manel Kape in July 2024 and was also not re-signed, a situation he has compared to Basharat's exit.