Muhammad Mokaev is pursuing a clear path back to the top ranks of mixed martial arts: remaining consistently active and defeating every opponent placed before him.
Following his departure from the UFC, Mokaev secured a victory against Joevincent So at BRAVE CF in December 2024. He then competed under Karate Combat rules, achieving a knockout win over Bolat Zamanbekov. His return to MMA is scheduled for June 14, facing Alisher Gabdullin at 971 FC 2 in Dubai.
Mokaev nearly scheduled another fight just a week earlier but decided against it due to the timing. His plan for later this year includes a potential return to BRAVE CF between June and September to challenge the winner of the May 30 fight between Jose Torres and Dias Yerengaipov for the flyweight championship.
Explaining his packed schedule, Mokaev told MMA Fighting, “I just want to stay busy because I train all my life, I don’t have like a training camp and all this stuff. For me, it’s make weight and that’s it, I’m ready to go against anyone in the world. I competed in IMMAF, amateur world championships, and I fought every day, so this is nothing new to me.”
A significant potential fight almost materialized for Mokaev later in the year, one that could have prompted him to pause his current strategy.
“In September [2025], I was supposed to fight against Kyoji Horiguchi in PFL,” Mokaev revealed. “PFL offered me this fight, September in Dubai. And then I see the news he got signed back to UFC. I don’t shy away from the challenges. Kyoji Horiguchi, he and [UFC champion Alexandre] Pantoja are the best flyweights in the world right now. I would say Manel Kape too, by the skills. I would pick these three guys, toughest of his challenges I could face in the MMA. So I was thinking, if I beat Kyoji, I’m back in the rankings again. And he goes sign to the UFC.”
Horiguchi vacated his RIZIN title to rejoin the UFC but was later withdrawn from his scheduled fight against Tagir Ulanbekov in Baku due to undisclosed reasons.
Although PFL doesn`t currently have a flyweight division, Mokaev stated, “PFL said they’re willing to open a flyweight tournament if I join them.”
Despite the favorable offer, Mokaev remains cautious about long-term contracts. “They’ve been good to me, to me to be honest,” Mokaev said. “They said, whatever you want, you’re welcome. But I just don’t want to stuck in the contract, that’s the problem. I respect all organizations, but I just don’t want to get stuck in any contract.” He is upfront about his intentions. “They know what my goal exactly and I’m not lying to anyone. I’m saying, listen, I’m here to put my performance and get back in the world rankings. I don’t want to lie and [say] I never want to go to UFC. You promote me, I’m going to use your money and then one day just go. I’ll go straight forward, you know?”
Mokaev had an impressive undefeated record in both professional and amateur bouts before his UFC tenure. At 24, he quickly rose in the UFC flyweight division but was released after UFC CEO Dana White cited issues with matchmakers liking him for “many different reasons.”
Reflecting on his past with the UFC, Mokaev acknowledged making mistakes, stating, “We are humans. I believe the matchmakers and everybody in their life at the age of 22, 23, under so much pressure, so much pressure I had at my age, maybe they would do more mistakes or maybe less, you know? We are all human. I learned from it. I don’t think that’s the issue right now. I just need to show my hands, my striking, and we’ll get back in talking with them. On the media, maybe they say it’s hard to work with me, but I don’t know. I did seven fights, and it wasn’t hard to work with me, but once I get come close to the title, I’m hard to deal with. I don’t know how that works. You know, if you’re hard to work with, you get kicked out from your first fight.”
For now, Mokaev is concentrating on accumulating wins. He has signed a one-bout agreement with Mounir Lazzez’s 971 FC and plans to continue accepting single-fight deals until he achieves his goals. He emphasizes that he does not underestimate opponents, though finding willing high-level competition presents challenges.
“I don’t underestimate people,” Mokaev said, explaining difficulties in matchmaking. He mentioned a previously scheduled 14-0 opponent who pulled out. “People say they’re willing to fight me, they’re ready to smash me, they don’t say no, and then they don’t do medicals on time on purpose. Or if they do medicals on time, they ask for like crazy amount of money that organization won’t pay them, so organization like say, ‘No, we’ll get another guy.’ That’s my problem right now in my career. People might think like I’m fighting somebody not my level. Of course I’m not going to fighting on my level, I beat seven guys in the UFC.”
Despite potential perception gaps, Mokaev respects his upcoming opponent, Alisher Gabdullin. “I think [Gabdullin is] a good opponent. This should be confidence, and not underestimating opponent. You have to find this balance.” He compared the feeling of walking out for Karate Combat to the UFC, recognizing the high stakes: “Even for Karate Combat, I was walking out, I had exactly same feeling what I did walk out in UFC. I should be aware these guys coming to take — basically if they beat me, that’s it. They don’t need to do 20 fights anymore, they just beat me. That’s why I should stay focused. That’s why I’m training every day.”
Highlighting Gabdullin`s credentials, Mokaev noted, “I think he’s well-rounded. He has a little bit of everything. And he’s ex-Octagon champion, which in Kazakhstan is right now the biggest promotion. I think he has 15 wins and four losses, so he’s got more wins than me in professional career. It means I’m not looking down on somebody. In my head, all fighters are the same. Alisher can throw exactly the same 1-2 as me, and he knows how to shoot the double leg, but how you’re going to feel on the fight night, that’s I think I have more confidence than all these flyweights.”
Mokaev`s recent knockout win in Karate Combat, his first in nearly five years, significantly boosted his confidence in striking. He aims to showcase more diverse skills in his upcoming fights in Dubai, potentially accelerating his return journey to the UFC.
“Now I’m more excited to put my striking performance there,” Mokaev said. “It gave me like believing in my striking abilities more. I don’t need to go shoot for takedown. Like, I go out, strike. If something doesn’t go into my plan in striking, I always gonna have plan B with my eyes closed. But now I need to go out and put some risk as well, not just like waiting for myself. Put entertainment for the people, too.”
Marcus Blakely