Dana White announces Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC contract will NOT be extended despite maintaining his unbeaten record with victory against Manel Kape
- Mokaev extends undefeated MMA record to 13-0 with win over Manel Kape
- Dana White says the Russian-born fighter will no longer compete in the UFC
Dana White has announced that Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC contract will not be renewed.
Russian-born Mokaev extended his undefeated MMA record to 13-0 with a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape in their flyweight clash at UFC 304 at the Co-op Live in Manchester.
His victory over Kape on Saturday night came after the two were involved in a wild brawl at a hotel two days earlier.
Moakev has now won all seven of his fights since making his UFC debut in March 2022, with a first-round guillotine choke submission over Cody Durden.
However, UFC boss White announced shortly afterwards that the 23-year-old will no longer be part of the organization.
Dana White has announced that Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC contract will not be renewed.
Mokaev extended his undefeated MMA record to 13-0 with victory over Manel Kape
When asked if Moakev’s contract will be extended after two consecutive points wins, White said: ‘The matchmakers are not big fans of him for a number of reasons, and not just because [of his fighting style]…there are a lot of people doing takedowns in this business.
‘There are a lot of guys who fight that style, but it’s so much more than that.
“He’s no longer under contract. I think the PFL is going to get a great, undefeated player. Good luck to him.”
Mokaev’s rise within the UFC has made him one of the top British fighters on the roster and the news will come as a blow to him.
He thanked his fans on social media for their support following White’s surprise decision.
“Thank you to all my true fans who supported me from the beginning! See you all,” Mokaev posted on X.
Mokaev’s (right) rise in the UFC has made him one of the best British fighters on the roster
In a separate post, he wrote: ‘Allah gives me strength in every situation in my life! Alhamdulillah.’
During his post-fight press conference, Mokaev explained why he had a falling out with Kape leading up to their fight.
“You know this was important to me. Five days before my Alex Perez fight I met Manel [Kape]. He headbutted me. If you watch my Alex Perez fight, I went to fight with [a] cut, with eight stitches. They stitched my eyebrow,” Mokaev said.
‘When I went to fight Alex Perez, everyone thought I was a boring wrestler. But I shot to [not risk] open my cut… in [an] interview, he said, once he comes to Manchester, [was] I’m going to do it a second time.
“So I couldn’t get near him at the hotel. So I said to him, ‘Let’s come and [a] ‘photo’, and when it came, I dropped it.
‘I had to do it, I can’t be bullied. I come from a rough background, my life was hard, I don’t give a damn if anyone bullies me.’