UFC 304 was supposed to be a defining event in the career of Dagestani fighter Muhammad Mokaev. But even after another victory, the athlete who renounced Russia was left without a contract.

The Punisher’s scandalous behavior has even gotten to the promotion’s management.

Dagestani troublemaker

Mokaev burst into the UFC in March 2022. Even before his first fight, Muhammad did not hesitate to predict that he would become the youngest champion in the organization’s history. He dreamed of surpassing the achievement of Jon Jones, who won the title at the age of 23 years and 234 days.

Punisher is now 23 years old, and he is still very far from the title by July 2024. He has six successful fights in the UFC, but he did not manage to rise above the sixth line of the flyweight rankings. The fight against Manel Kape at the tournament was the last one under the current contract for Mokaev. Usually in such cases, the promotion offers improved conditions.

The talkative Muhammad decided to draw more attention to his scandalous persona in his traditional manner. He accused the promotion of not allowing him to break Jones’ record because he is a big star.

— Jon Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history when he was 23 years and 9 months old. I’m still 23. I could do it, but it seems like the UFC doesn’t want it. Jon Jones is an American star, and they 100% want to keep this record for him, — the fighter said in an interview with Title Sports Network.

The pre-tournament week also passed in a tense atmosphere. The fighters staged a brutal mass brawl in the hotel, which UFC director Dana White does not like very much. On the stardown, Mokaev and Kapa had to be restrained from getting into a fight.

Muhammad has always been known for his provocative behavior. He enjoys using any opportunity to make headlines, and when there are none, he makes up his own. So in April 2023, he publicly renounced Russia, the country in which he was born. The fighter did not like that his place of birth was listed as “Dagestan, Russia.”

“I don’t like this! Please just leave Dagestan for my next outing!” the fighter wrote on social media.

Muhammad Mokaev / Photo: © Richard Sellers – PA Images / Contributor / PA Images / Gettyimages.ru

“He’s no longer under contract.”

Mokaev often hid his lackluster style in the cage behind his scandalous behavior. Even before the fight with Kape, he said that he needed to put on a strong fight to get a new contract on improved terms.

But contrary to pre-fight statements, Muhammad spent three rounds with his Portuguese opponent. There were very few bright moments. Mokaev took no risks and deservedly won by unanimous decision. Now his record includes a series of 13 consecutive victories.

It would seem that a young and undefeated fighter can be re-signed at least to maintain the brand of the strongest promotion on the planet. A striking example of this is Movsar Evloev, who also very pragmatically achieves victories. But the UFC management decided otherwise. Immediately after the tournament, Dana White announced that there would be one less Punisher in the promotion.

Dana White / Photo: © Mike Roach / Contributor / UFC / Gettyimages.ru

— Matchmakers are not fans of Mokaev for many reasons, and it’s not just about takedowns. A lot of people in this business takedowns. It’s about much more than that. This whole situation that’s been developing lately started with the UFC Performance Institute, plus a lot of other things. These guys didn’t want to re-sign him. He’s no longer under contract, yeah. I think the PFL will take a great undefeated fighter. Good luck to him, — White said.

Dane is indeed hard to upset morally. In some cases, he tolerates the antics of scandalous fighters for years. It is difficult to even guess what Mokaev did that made him, with an impeccable service record, get thrown out on the street in the prime of his life.

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