Latest news with #Mokaev
Gulf Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Mokaev faces Assis as 971FC gears up for blockbuster fight card
971FC, the UAE's fastest-growing fight promotion, takes the Coca-Cola Arena by storm on Saturday, for a landmark night of international combat sports and entertainment. With 14 explosive bouts, elite fighters in the main and co-main events, and a headline live performance by hip-hop legend Lloyd Banks, this is more than a fight night – it's a cultural event. This event is officially sold out, marking it as one of the most anticipated sporting spectacles of the year. The spotlight shines bright as Muhammad Mokaev faces off against Thomas Assis in the main event, a thrilling bantamweight bout set to headline an action-packed fight night. In a major shakeup, undefeated British-Dagestani phenom Mokaev (14-0) faces off against Brazilian submission expert with an 11-fight win streak Assis (12-2). A former IMMAF world champion and UFC veteran, Mokaev is known for his relentless pressure and Olympic-level wrestling. Assis, who hails from Coari in Brazil and trains out of RCT Coari, is riding a win streak and brings a gritty, aggressive grappling style that promises a chess match on the ground. Russian powerhouse and sambo technician Raimond Magomedaliev (10-2) returns to action, looking to impose his dominant top game against seasoned Brazilian striker Andrey 'Mineiro' Augusto (17-9-1) in the co-main event. Augusto is known for his durability and knockout power and will look to test the Russian's chin and composure under fire.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Muhammad Mokaev names one fighter who could dethrone UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja
Muhammad Mokaev names one fighter who could dethrone UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja Undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev believes UFC champion Alexandre Pantoja has the rest of the division mentally defeated, with the exception of one fighter. Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) is not-so-quietly on one of the most impressive runs in the sport, with three title defenses under his belt, and a potential fourth just over a month away. Since most of the top flyweights have been hanging around in the rankings for years, Pantoja has already faced and defeated half of the current top 10, while sending others out of the top 15. Mokaev understands the familiarity, which he believes gives Pantoja a mental edge. "You know, the flyweight division, the guys been in the division for a long time," Mokaev said in an interview with Chael Sonnen. "I've been a fan of Tim Elliott. 2017, I watched his fight live against Demetrious Johnson. He was 'Ultimate Fighter' winner. Then, I fought myself in 2023 against Tim Elliott. So, those guys have been in that division for so long. "If you start in that division, growing up with them, you're going to read them. You watch the fights, you already like – it feels like your neighbors. So, he already read them, and so he basically just have to get in shape and perform, that's it. Mentally, Pantoja is in their heads." Mokaev believes there's only one fighter currently on the UFC's flyweight roster who could dethrone Pantoja – and it's someone he has first-hand experience against. "Only guy I think who can beat Pantoja right now in the division, I would say, is Manel Kape," Mokaev said. It's a matchup that could come together soon, and it wouldn't be the first time Pantoja and Kape met inside the octagon. Pantoja won a unanimous decision against Kape in 2021, a victory that kickstarted his run to capturing the flyweight title. For Kape, the result was the first of back-to-back losses that year. He has since rebounded to go 6-1, and currently has a No. 1 contender fight on the books against former title challenger Brandon Royval at UFC 317. Mokaev also mixed it up with Kape, winning a unanimous decision at UFC 304, so he knows what it takes to deal with "Starboy." For Mokaev, as he continues his career outside of the UFC, his main focus right now is to continue evolving his striking. Should he ever receive the call to return to the UFC, he intends to be a more well-rounded fighter with the threat of wrestling always ready as a backup plan.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Muhammad Mokaev makes MMA return in 971 FC's June main event in Dubai
Muhammad Mokaev makes MMA return in 971 FC's June main event in Dubai Muhammad Mokaev has remained active since parting ways with the UFC. After leaving the UFC, Mokaev has competed in grappling, MMA, and Karate Combat. In his return to BRAVE FC, the undefeated flyweight submitted Joevincent So in the first round this past December. He then scored a second-round knockout over Bolat Zamanbekov at Karate Combat 54 this past Friday. Now, Mokaev (13-0) will look to continue his run in MMA when he takes on Kazakhstan's Alisher Gabdullin (15-4) in a bantamweight bout, which headlines 971 Fighting Championship June 14 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, promotion officials announced Tuesday. Mokaev went 7-0 in the UFC from March 2022 to July 2024, and was on the cusp of title contention before the promotion decided to part ways with him.
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Karate Combat 54 video: Muhammad Mokaev debuts with nasty body shot finish
Karate Combat 54 video: Muhammad Mokaev debuts with nasty body shot finish Muhammad Mokaev continued life outside the UFC on Friday with a successful debut at Karate Combat 54. The undefeated flyweight MMA standout Mokaev, who had a well-documented exit from the UFC despite his high ranking, saw his desire to keep active lead him into a different form of a combat sport, but the result was the same as all his others. Mokaev got the second-round knockout victory over Bolat Zamanbekov in their 125-pound matchup in Dubai, landing a stabbing kick to the body that folded his opponent and led to the stoppage (via X): After the fight, Mokaev was pleased with his performance and said it's the next step in getting his career to where he ultimately wants it to be. "I feel amazing," Mokaev said in his post-fight interview. "I want to compete as much as possible. I just want my goal to become the best in the world. There's some bumps in the road, but it happens. I made some mistakes. I'm going to make more mistakes. But it makes me who I am today, and thanks to everyone for supporting me."
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steve Erceg hopes to slap 'privileged diva' Muhammad Mokaev around if UFC ever re-signs him: 'He's a massive knob'
Steve Erceg and Muhammad Mokaev won't be sharing holiday cards anytime soon. Like the rest of the MMA world, Erceg didn't expect to see his former fellow UFC flyweight contender part ways with the promotion after a unanimous decision win over Manel Kape in July 2024. Had it not been for Mokaev's approach to the situation and dealings behind the scenes, Erceg might have had more sympathy — when asked for his initial thoughts on the situation this past summer, Erceg responded by saying Mokaev "did it to himself." Mokaev was none too pleased after hearing what "Astro Boy" had to say, prompting a brief direct message (DM) exchange on social media. 'I was shocked that he got cut,' Erceg said on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show" ahead of his UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Moreno. 'Obviously, being undefeated, you'd think that's enough to stay in the UFC. But yeah, I don't know, I didn't like the way he interacted with people around him, and he's messaged me since. I'm thinking more and more that he's a massive knob, so I don't care. 'He seemed like a privileged diva, I guess. Like, 'Everything has to be done the way I want it, I don't care if that's not how it's done.' I don't know. It was surprising because you would think somebody that grew up the way he grew up would be a little bit more humble and that sort of thing, but he just seemed like, 'I'm the guy you work around.' He seemed like a douche.' Erceg claimed the DMs came roughly one year ago, with Mokaev calling him a liar. The undefeated Mokaev didn't do himself many favors toward the end of his UFC contract. His rivalry with Kape resulted in multiple altercations outside the Octagon before the fight, including one that involved a fake selfie and a sucker punch — what Erceg referred to as a "king hit" in Australian slang. If Mokaev's antics and interactions weren't enough to rub Erceg the wrong way, fuel was added to the fire after Erceg's most recent fight — a tough first-round loss to Kai Kara-France in August 2024. 'I make a very clear point not to lie in my life," Erceg said. "Obviously, people do screw up sometimes, but I try to be very honest with people about things, and yeah, he said it didn't happen. I don't disagree that he probably didn't recognize that he was being like that because he's a diva. 'After I got knocked out, obviously, he messaged me and asked me if I woke up. There you go. Good on him. Nice guy. 'Another thing, who gets into a street fight with somebody, then goes, 'Ah, let's squash the beef and take a photo,' then king hits him," he added. "That's like the most dog thing I've ever heard in my life. What he did to Kape was disgraceful. If you're going to do it, who cares, but go face-to-face. Do it like a man. I don't know. It was disgusting." Mokaev still hopes to return to the UFC one day. He won his lone fight outside the promotion since his departure, submitting Joevincent So in a December bout with Brave CF. It didn't take long for Mokaev to respond to Erceg's comments on Tuesday. I won't say much but Karma will get you for all those lies You already got KOd, hope Moreno will KO you too Btw when he fought against Mat Schnell I came to you and said all the best to you, when you fought for the belt I tweeter 2-3 times and wish you the best but when I got cut you started lying about me to get attention Bum! A potential matchup against the one-time title challenger Erceg could've been a real possibility for Mokaev had he stuck around to continue his UFC career. If Mokaev ever does find his way back to the promotion, Erceg is more than happy to roll out the welcome mat for the brash Dagestani. 'I'd love to slap him around, 100%,' Erceg said. 'I assume that if I ever went to London, and he saw me in the street, I'd assume he'd try to king hit me. So I'm ready for whatever nonsense he wants to generate.' While the Mokaev fight is a fun theater, Erceg has bigger opportunities to worry about to kick off his 2025 campaign. "Astro Boy" launched to the top of the 125-pound division quicker than expected when he earned a title shot against UFC champion Alexandre Pantoja only three wins into his promotional run. Unfortunately for the Aussie, he lost that fight via a hard-fought unanimous decision in early 2024. Next on the docket for Erceg is a UFC Mexico City main event this Saturday, opposite the former two-time UFC champion Brandon Moreno. Moments like these still require a pinch for Erceg. Despite believing in his talent, it remains a bizarre realization for him to know he's made it to the division's elite. 'I did a faceoff with Moreno yesterday, and I said to him, 'Man, it's so weird. I've been watching you on TV for so long, now I'm standing in front of you ready to fight.' It just doesn't feel real sometimes,' Erceg said. 'I do think I belong, I just don't want to lose that whole 'excited to be around the sport and excited to get all these opportunities' and stuff. I feel like if I start thinking that, 'Oh yeah, I'm the man,' I might lose something and become less relatable, perhaps.' Considering the state of the division, a win for either half of UFC Mexico City's main event would be huge. Pantoja has taken out nearly every ranked opponent, and either fighter staking a claim to another title shot would mean a Pantoja rematch. Erceg will cross that bridge when it comes to him. Until then, he's embracing the moment ahead of his big clash with Moreno. 'I am not a person that usually gets excited as soon as they get a call about a fight,' Erceg said. 'Usually, the first emotion is nerves, and then I might get excited after. But I don't know what it was, but I wasn't even nervous when I got called [to fight Moreno]. I got nervous later, but I was just so excited. Fighting in Mexico against Brandon Moreno is like a dream fight. 'I was definitely surprised [to get him]. I expected somebody like Asu [Almabayev], somebody in the top 10, top 15, certainly lower down. So it was a shock, but a happy shock.'
