Following his surprising departure from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Muhammad Mokaev declared his intention to eventually return and achieve his goals within the promotion.
Mokaev`s UFC entry in 2022 immediately marked him as a potential future champion. His notable victories against opponents like Charles Johnson and Alex Perez positioned him for a top contender fight in the flyweight division against Manel Kape.
However, despite a close win over Kape at UFC 304, Mokaev was unexpectedly released. UFC President Dana White cited difficulties in dealing with Mokaev behind the scenes as the reason for his dismissal.
Mokaev`s Next Move: Karate Combat
After being cut from the UFC, Mokaev made a return to BRAVE CF, where his MMA journey began, securing a quick submission victory last December.
‘The Punisher’ has consistently expressed his desire to return to the UFC to fulfill his ambition of becoming the youngest champion, surpassing Jon Jones` record. However, re-signing with the UFC seems to require significant effort.
In a surprising turn of events, Mokaev announced on Wednesday that his next fight would be in Karate Combat at KC54 in Dubai on May 2.
“Karate was my first martial art, before I transitioned to wrestling. I want to stay active, compete, and enhance my striking skills. Wrestling is always my backup, but I need to develop my striking,” Mokaev stated in a social media post.
This announcement was unexpected by many MMA fans, given Mokaev`s strong reputation in grappling and wrestling.
Steve Erceg Criticizes Mokaev
Since Mokaev`s UFC release, Steve Erceg has risen as a prominent contender in the flyweight division.
Erceg is scheduled to face former champion Brandon Moreno in the main event of UFC Mexico City, aiming to regain momentum and potentially re-enter title contention.
Leading up to this fight, Erceg criticized Mokaev`s conduct during his UFC tenure, calling him “privileged” and a “diva.”
“I didn’t like how Muhammad Mokaev interacted with people, and he has messaged me since,” Erceg mentioned in an interview.
“I increasingly think he’s a massive jerk. He came across as a privileged diva… It was surprising because you’d expect someone with his background to be more humble… He just seemed like a douche… I would love to fight him,” Erceg added.
