UFC 304 witnessed quite a bit of drama, both in the Octagon and outside the arena. And Muhammad Mokaev was one such entity who was at the center of the drama. He was pitted against Manel Kape and even managed to capture a win over him. However, the heat that the two emanated before the event severely backfired at Mokaev. It was indeed his last fight in the contract, and Dana White wasn’t ready to re-sign the Brit. 

Weighing in on this, Tom Aspinall claimed that it wasn’t fair to the Dagestani mixed martial artist. He should have been given another contract at the UFC. But instead, Mokaev’s trajectory was redirected toward PFL. Let’s see what the interim heavyweight champion thought of Mokaev’s exit from the MMA promotion.

Tom Aspinall doesn’t agree with Dana White’s decision to let Muhammad Mokaev go

On the 4th date of August 2024, Aspinall made an appearance on Carl Froch’s YouTube talk show, ‘Froch on Fighting’. During the conversation, ‘The Cobra’ strumbled upon Mokaev getting fired from the UFC. Froch simply wanted to know what the ‘Honey Badger’ thought of the UFC head honcho’s decision.

After recapturing the beef and official removal of Mokaev from the UFC, Aspinall said, “I mean, this has happened before. All this beef, you know, in the hotel, and at the weigh-ins and all the rest of it. It’s not the first time. So, I think it’s a bit unfair on him. Just to kick him out indefinitely. But at the end of the day, I’m not the boss of the UFC. It’s got absolutely nothing to do with me. I’m not running a multibillion-dollar business. So, I think it’s a shame but it’s not really my call.”

Aspinall revealed that he has known the Dagestani since he was 12 years old. Soon, he began talking about the heat that emanated from Kape and Mokaev before they finally stepped into the Octagon. Little did he know that the trouble he caused in the hotel rooms and the punches he threw outside the Octagon would cost him so much. He even offered to fight for free if the UFC re-signs him. But alas! The damage was already done.

Needless to say, Aspinall isn’t alone in his belief. But Mokaev hasn’t stopped trying. He has tweeted pleas directed at the UFC to take him back in, claiming that he has learned the lesson and would even fight for free. 

‘The Punisher’ has learned a valuable lesson

Mokaev did everything he could to get one more chance to get back into the Octagon. He pleaded with the UFC officials and Dana White for a second chance. But all his efforts went to waste, as White told the reporters at the UFC 304 press conference, that the PFL would get a great undefeated fighter. 

‘The Punisher’ admitted the wrong he did and apologized for it. He took to X and revealed that he indeed learned the lesson. He wrote, “This is first time I punched outside the cage, it was more personal. He was the one who head butted 5 days before Perez fight when I went to shake his hand in Vegas! I understand, this is wrong what happen at the hotel and I apologise to the UFC, but there’s some nights I didn’t sleep because someone treated me like that , I never been cheap shot on the streets I will never let anyone bully me and I never bullied anyone, but whatever happened it happened, I don’t wanna keep going about it but I will take big lesson from it!” 

With dreams of becoming a champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Mokaev just hopes for White to reconsider his decision. Should Mokaev’s contract be renewed? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.