It seems UFC 304 was the last time we will see Muhammad Mokaev fight for the UFC. “The PFL are going to get a great undefeated talent,” Dana White said in the post-fight press conference. Mokaev is undefeated in MMA and 7-0 in the UFC, so what went so wrong that White took this drastic step?

The flyweight fight between Manel Kape and Mokaev. It was perhaps the one fight that many felt should not have been so far down on the card. The bout had an eventful journey going from the main card to the prelims to the early prelims. The heated back and forth between the pair, and the altercation at the fighter hotel before the event added to the hype. The bad blood between the two stars started from an altercation at the UFC PI a few months ago. But the actual fight was the antithesis to all this build-up.

Mokaev won the fight via unanimous decision and continued his undefeated record in the UFC. However, it was Kape who won over the fight fans’ hearts with his sheer willpower as he pushed through the pain after breaking his big toe in the middle of the fight. Mokaev received a few warnings for groin shots and pulling his opponent’s shorts. Ultimately, it was the Dagestani’s win. But did you know that there was a condition set in place for Mokaev?

After the Dagestani fighter won his bout at UFC 304, a big revelation came forward that had the entire fanbase in shock. ‘The One, The Only’ Oscar Willis took to X right after the bout and made the announcement. He wrote, “Mokaev also says the UFC told him before this fight they might not resign him if he continues fighting a wrestle-heavy style.” The flyweight star was speaking to the press after the fight. He added, “They said they’re gonna see how I perform, they don’t want me to keep shooting and taking people down.”

There were reports that Mokaev was on his last fight on the current UFC contract at UFC 304. Talking to Daniel Cormier during the Octagon interview, Mokaev asked for the home crowd’s support in calling for a new UFC contract. However, White said during the post-fight presser that Mokaev has not been the matchmakers’ favorite and has been causing several problems in recent months. This is a hard blow to the MMA wonderkid who is 11-0 overall and 7-0 in the UFC at just 23 years old.

Mokaev tried to stay more active on the feet but Kape’s experience and takedown defense held up well. The overwhelming response in the arena and on social media was disappointment at not seeing a slugfest. Further, reports of Mokaev sucker punching Kape after calling him to pose for a photo to amend things did not help his popularity either.

Now, this one dampens the flyweight title picture if Mokaev and the UFC get into a contract dispute of sorts. With a 7-0 run, the Dagestan-born will want a title fight. Will he get it?

Will UFC 304 winner Muhmammad Mokaev get a title shot off Manel Kape win?

During the course of the fight, the commentators kept reiterating how this was a title eliminator of sorts. Mokaev’s unbeaten and dominant run had a large part to play in this narrative being built. Sitting at #6, he could leapfrog the contenders ahead of him with a shutout performance, and that is exactly what the UFC asked of him as well. 

However, the fight was a different story. Mokaev tried to get the show going but Kape’s shots seemed like they were finding the mark the few times he threw them. An unceremonious takedown attempt that should have seen a point deduction did not help Mokaev either. 

Now, ‘The Punisher’ finished fights in stellar fashion before but the MMA world frowns upon his wrestle-heavy style. Though this fight did not see a whole lot of wrestling, it may not have done too much in helping him get a new and vastly improved contract.

Even though the duo were involved in a cold war online, with insults hurtling from either side, the post-fight situation was a complete turnaround. Mokaev displayed extreme sportsmanship and even extracted a bit of applause from the crowd for his opponent, as Daniel Cormier brought the microphone to him for the interview. But what about the renewal of his contract?

Dana White lets Mokaev go to PFL

In the press conference after his fight, ‘The Punisher’ didn’t back down from asking for a shot at the title, while requesting a contract renewal. He said, “I want to fight for the belt and I hope the UFC give me a new contract. My contract is finished, you see. I hope they give me new contract…”  He continued, “I tried to put striking together first time in my career. I was standing in my 3 rounds with the best flyweight striker.”

However, White was not willing to keep the Dagestani fighter in the UFC anymore. At the press conference, he clarified his take on Mokaev’s fighting style and admitted that the MMA promotion asked him to stop shooting for takedowns so much. But when it came to the renewal of the contract, White said, “I think the PFL is gonna get a great undefeated guy. Good luck to him.”

Needless to say, White’s take disappointed the fighting community. But this setback will definitely not be a big enough hurdle for Mokaev. He will ensure his undefeated streak continues in whichever MMA promotion he enters in the future.

Did the fight proceed as per your expectations? What do you think about Mokaev’s contract situation? Let us know in the comments down below.