“Listen, I thought I made it pretty clear. Sean, Hunter, and Mick did not like working with him. And they did not want to re-sign him. He is a free agent. I mean, he could be a world champion somewhere else. And maybe they will like him better than Sean, Mick, and Hunter do,” said Dana White at the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight presser last week, effectively ruling out any potential return for Muhammad Mokaev to the UFC.

Mokaev, once an undefeated star in the UFC’s flyweight division, was informed last year at UFC 304 that White had chosen not to renew his contract. The head honcho’s reasoning was based on the 125fer’s relationship with the matchmakers, stating, “They weren’t happy with him…They weren’t happy with a lot of the things he did and said.” White further said, “You [Mokaev] put yourself in this position.”

However, Muhammad Mokaev, speaking to ‘Vestnik MMA’ on YouTube today, challenged White’s assertions regarding his relationship with UFC top brass, including Sean Shelby, Hunter Campbell, and Mick Maynard. The Brit clarified, “To be honest, I have a normal relationship with Hunter, a very good relationship. Even after the tournament, he wrote to me. We will have a call and talk further; we’ll see how the situation in my career unfolds.” This isn’t the first time Mokaev has addressed his relationship with the UFC leadership.

Last year after DWCS 7.5 in August, Dana had remained firm on not extending Mokaev’s contract. He remarked, “It is what it is,” However, just a few months later, the Englishman claimed in the same interview that Hunter Campbell had assured him it would only take “1-2 fights outside the organization” before they would re-sign him, a fact ‘The Punisher’ reiterated today.

Muhammad Mokaev claims that “good news” is on the way, despite Dana White’s claims

In a recent interview with Vestnik MMA on YouTube, undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev appeared to dismiss Dana White’s previous comments, stating, “I’m currently negotiating with the UFC. Dana just doesn’t keep track of all the events. He mentioned it in an interview based on an old story. Hunter Campbell and I are in contact; good news is coming soon.”