Muhammad Mokaev explains struggles trying to get ranked UFC opponent
Up-and-coming UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev explained his struggles trying to get a ranked opponent for his next fight inside the Octagon.
Mokaev is only 22 years old and he has a perfect 10-0, 1 NC record in MMA, including a 4-0 record since joining the UFC in 2022. He beat Cody Durden by submission in his promotional debut before winning a decision over Charles Johnson in his sophomore UFC appearance. Since then, he’s beaten Malcolm Gordon and Jafel Filho by submission.
Mokaev’s first four UFC opponents were unranked, and he hopes that he gets someone with a number beside their name the next time he fights. But at this point, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
Speaking to the “Believe You Me” podcast, Mokaev explained the difficulties that he’s having securing a ranked opponent next.
“It’s very, very hard at the moment. When I wasn’t ranked, I beat Cody Durden in under 50 seconds and after that, I beat LFA champion Charles Johnson, Malcolm Gordon, Jafel Filho, who came out of the Contender Series. These guys are older than me by 10 years. Now I’m ranked No. 12, and people don’t want to fight me, ranked guys. Now ranked guys are saying, ‘Go have one more fight,’ and then if I beat somebody else, they’re gonna say, ‘You’re still fighting unranked guys,’” Mokaev said (via MMAjunkie.com).
As an example, Mokaev said that No. 9 ranked Manel Kape turned him down, and considering Kape just lost his opponent Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 290, you can understand Mokaev’s frustrations here.
“Manel Kape, for example, he didn’t accept a fight against me. He’s ranked No. 9, he’s 3-2 in the UFC, but he said, ‘You’re not on my level.’ What can I do if these guys don’t want to fight me. How can I not be his level if he lost to all ranked guys,” Mokaev said.
