Featured Image Credit: UFC & MMA Junkie
Topics: MMA, UFC, Dana White
Rory O'Callaghan
British fighter Muhammad Mokaev has spoken out after being brutally cut from the UFC despite extending his winning streak at Saturday's event in Manchester.
Russia-born Mokaev cruised to a unanimous decision victory against Manel Kape in their flyweight bout at UFC 304 at Co-op Live, improving his overall record in MMA to 13-0.
It was a hugely satisfying result for Mokaev, who had clashed with Kape in the build-up to the fight – with the two fighters involved in an ugly brawl at the fighters' hotel on the eve of the event in Manchester.
He has now won all seven of his fights in the UFC since joining the company in 2022.
But in a shock move, UFC boss Dana White cut Mokaev from the promotion during his post-event press conference.
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When asked whether the Dagestan-born fighter would remain with UFC after back-to-back points decision victories, White said: "The matchmakers aren't big fans of his for many different reasons, and not just because [of his fighting style]... there's a lot of people who shoot takedowns in this in this business.
"There are a lot of guys that fight with that type of style, but it's a lot more than just that.
"He's not under contract anymore. I think the PFL is going to get a great, undefeated guy. Good luck to him."
Mokaev took to X to thanks his fans for their support in the wake of the shock decision.
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"Thank you to all my true fans that supported me from the beginning! I see you all," he posted.
In a separate post, he added: "Allah gives me power in every situation in my life! Alhamdulillah."
In his post-fight press conference, Mokaev explained why he had clashed Kape in the build-up to the event, after footage emerged of the British fighter punching his opponent at the fighters' hotel.
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"You know this was important to me. Five days before my Alex Perez fight, I met with Manel [Kape]. He head-butted me. If you watch my Alex Perez fight, I went to fight with [a] cut, with eight stitches. They stitched up my eyebrow," explained Mokaev.
"When I went to fight with Alex Perez, everybody thought I was a boring wrestler. But I was shooting to [not risk] opening my cut... in [an] interview, he said once he comes to Manchester he [was] going to do it a second time.
"So, I couldn't come close to him in the hotel. So I told him, 'let's come take [a] picture,' and once he came over, I dropped him.
"I had to do it, I can't be bullied. I come from a rough background, my life was tough, I give no sh*t to anyone to bully me."