Muhammad Mokaev hints at signing with MMA promotion following UFC saga: "New gloves but the same goal"

Muhammad Mokaev (right) hints at signing with new MMA promotion after posting photo of new gloves (left) [Images courtesy: Getty Images and @muhammadmokaev on Instagram]
Muhammad Mokaev (right) hints at signing with new MMA promotion after posting photo of new gloves (left). [Images courtesy: Getty Images and @muhammadmokaev on Instagram]

Muhammad Mokaev was unceremoniously left to explore other MMA promotions after completing his current contract with the UFC. The flyweight prospect secured a decision victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304 and confessed that he hoped the promotion would re-sign him.

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However, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed following the event that the promotion would not be re-signing 'The Punisher'. White was not transparent as to why but alluded to difficulties behind the scenes working with the 23-year-old as a big reason.

The promotion's announcement did not dampen Mokaev's desire to continue fighting with the UFC. He stated that if the UFC brass decided to re-sign him he would fight his next fight in the octagon for free, and that he had "learnt his lesson".

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But the offer fell on deaf ears, and the UFC confirmed that they would not be offering the undefeated flyweight.

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It appears that 'The Punisher' has finally found a new home. He took to X to share a picture of a pair of MMA gloves, indicating that he has been signed by another MMA promotion.

Having previously stated that he wanted to become the youngest UFC champion of all time, Mokaev reaffirmed his desire to be champion and wrote this:

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"New gloves but same goal"

See Muhammad Mokaev's post below:

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Tom Aspinall discusses "unfair" treatment of Muhammad Mokaev by the UFC

Tom Aspinall and Muhammad Mokaev go way back, with the current interim heavyweight champion having served as Mokaev's first-ever Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach after 'The Punisher' migrated to the UK as a teenager.

The pair both featured at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, where Aspinall successfully defended his interim title via first-round KO against Curtis Blaydes.

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With his former BJJ student having not been offered another contract by the UFC, Aspinall recently shared his thoughts on the promotion's decision during an interview with Carl Froch, a former boxing world champion.

"I think it's unfair, to be honest with you... This has happened before, all his beef [with Manel Kape] 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. At the end of the day, I'm not the boss of the UFC."
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Watch Tom Aspinall discuss Muhammad Mokaev's situation below (19:25):

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Edited by C. Nayak
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