Unbeaten UFC fighter released by Dana White makes dramatic career announcement

Two years after Dana White released him from the UFC, Muhammad Mokaev has ambitions of eventually returning to fight under the promotion.

Mokaev had just stretched his winning run to seven fights with a unanimous victory over Manuel Kape at UFC 304 in July 2024 when White announced that he would not be re-signing the Russian-born Briton.

It was a crushing blow for the 26-year-old, who had recorded the third-longest win streak in the history of the UFC flyweight division by beating Kape, and has since continued to demonstrate his talents elsewhere.

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Muhammad Mokaev wants to eventually return to the UFC

When Mokaev was shockingly released from the UFC, there were suggestions that 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 their decision.

Mokaev strongly denied those claims, telling BBC Sport: "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?

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

Few fighters have been more active than the flyweight since leaving the promotion, continuing to showcase his incredible talents, finishing opponents with chokes, body kicks, head kicks, and punches, while also winning titles in BRAVE CF and ACBJJ.

But such devastating form hasn't been enough to catch the attention of UFC matchmakers Hunter Campbell, Mick Maynard, and Sean Shelby. In fact, he believes the UFC are 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."

Those setbacks have only fuelled Mokaev to prove he's the best flyweight in the world and still has ambitions of one day having UFC gold around his waist - no matter how long it takes.

"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."

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Muhammad Mokaev will consider PFL offer

One option for Mokaev is to join the Professional Fighters League (PFL), a major American MMA organisation that announced a merger with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in July to create a unified global combat sports powerhouse designed to challenge the UFC.

PFL were one of the organisations to offer him a lucrative, multi-fight contract to compete in the bantamweight division, as they don't currently have a flyweight division, but he will consider an offer if the UFC doesn't soften their stance and the PFL creates a 125-pound division.

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

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

Mokaev will surely be one of the millions tuning in to the flyweight title between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday, perhaps feeling that if he wasn't released from the UFC, that would have been him in that position.