'Politics' will not stop me pursuing UFC return - Mokaev

It has been more than two years since Muhammad Mokaev was released by the UFC - and yet he is still searching for answers.

In July 2024 the Russian-born Briton had just stretched his winning run in the promotion to seven fights with a unanimous decision victory over Manuel Kape at UFC 304.

From the outside, Mokaev appeared to have it all.

Victory over Kape in Manchester had seemingly further cemented his place as a top contender in the flyweight division and a title shot appeared to be within his grasp.

But later that night UFC president Dana White made the shock announcement they would not be re-signing Mokaev.

It was initially suggested Mokaev's behaviour in the build-up to facing Kape – which included clashes with his Portuguese rival at the fighter hotel and again at the weigh-ins – may have influenced the UFC's decision.

"If we talk about behaviour, right - if I'm a bad guy, why would you let me fight seven fights and renew my contract twice?" Mokaev told BBC Sport.

"If I'm a bad guy in the company and organisation, they would cut me after one or two fights.

The flyweight, who moved to Britain as a refugee when he was 12 years old, believes his wrestling-heavy style was a contributing factor.

Mokaev won his UFC debut via submission in just 58 seconds before beating Charles Johnson by unanimous decision in his second bout.

He says the UFC text his manager after that victory over Johnson saying "he needs to stop wrestling - we don't want these decision guy".

"I have around a 60% finish rate in the UFC. Four out of seven fights were finishes against top guys," Mokaev said.

"I don't know what else I need to do to show them - I was 21 when I was fighting these veterans and now I'm much better and much stronger.

"From 21 to 23, I beat all these guys. Even Manuel Kape, and he is ranked number two right now. I really don't understand the politics. I really don't know. I wish I knew the full story behind everything."

'They basically wasted two years of my life'

You only need one look at Mokaev's record since July 2024 to understand how determined he is to make his way back to the UFC.

Few fighters on the planet have been more active than the flyweight, who has competed eight times over the past two years.

Since leaving the promotion, he has finished opponents with chokes, body kicks, head kicks and punches, while also winning titles in BRAVE CF and ACBJJ.

Yet it has not been enough to catch the attention of UFC matchmakers Hunter Campbell, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby.

Although Mokaev is in a WhatsApp group with Campbell and Shelby, he believes the UFC is constantly moving the goalposts.

"Hunter made me a promise. They basically wasted two years of my life," Mokaev explained. "That's how I feel right now. I don't think what they are doing is right."

Mokaev says he was also offered $10,000 (£7,399) to compete in UFC BJJ, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition, against bantamweight champion Mikey Musumeci.

Despite finding the proposed fee deeply insulting, he was willing to face the five-time world champion if the UFC offered him a contract afterwards.

"They said, 'no, this is different. BJJ is different. This is different. We have other plans.' I told them where to go," said Mokaev, who admitted his response to the UFC contained several expletives.

When Joshua Van defends his flyweight title in a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, there will be a sense of what might have been for Mokaev.

That is because Van, 24, became the first UFC champion born in the 2000s when he defeated Pantoja in December.

It was a feat that had long looked likely to be achieved by Mokaev after he signed with the UFC in 2021 and quickly soared through the ranks.

Only former UFC champions Demetrious Johnson (13) and Pantoja (eight) have recorded longer winning streaks in the flyweight division than Mokaev (seven).

It is why he remains steadfast in his belief that he is the best flyweight in the world and that he will one day have UFC gold around his waist, even if it comes later than he anticipated.

"The way I'm going to compete and keep winning, eventually they're going to send me there," Mokaev said.

"Back then I said, 'the best fight the best.' But it doesn't matter what happens with the situation, I think I'm the best flyweight in the world and I deserve to fight the best."

It is also part of the reason he has decided to sign one-fight deals rather than committing to longer-term contracts.

There have been more lucrative, multi-fight contracts offered to Mokaev since 2024, though he will only consider signing them if the UFC's stance on his return does not soften.

One of those offers came from the Professional Fighters League (PFL) to fight in its bantamweight division, as the promotion does not currently have a men's flyweight division.

Mokaev says he would be tempted to put pen to paper if the PFL created a 125-pound division following its merger with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions in July.

"I want to stay active because I'm still young. I just turned 26. Most people start their careers at this age," Mokaev said.

"I'm going to do what's best for my family."