Introduction
Muhammad Mokaev (born 30 July 2000) is an English professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He formerly competed in Brave Combat Federation (BCF). As of 24 October 2023, he is #10 in the UFC flyweight rankings.
Background
Mokaev was born in Buynaksk, Dagestan, Russia, to a Kumyk family. He moved with his father to England at the age of 12, soon after his mother passed away. They were placed in a refugee camp in Liverpool upon their arrival, being given £5 a day to get by. They were soon moved to Wigan in their first month in the UK. He had tried his hand in freestyle wrestling in Dagestan, but only started enjoying it when he joined the Manchester Wrestling Club in 2013 and started competing. Mokaev is twice a British Championship medallist and an English National champion (twice medallist), and has competed at the 2021 U23 World Championships and the 2021 Ion Corneanu & Ladislau Simon Memorial. In the junior level, he is a four-time British Champion, winning the tournament from 2014 to 2017, and also competed at the 2017 European Championships.
Mokaev picked up Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling as well, becoming a two-time ADCC UK champion (intermediate division) in the latter.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Mokaev made his amateur MMA debut in November 2015 and compiled four wins by the end of the following year in 2016. On 11 February 2017, Mokaev became the flyweight champion for Tanko FC, defeating his opponent via unanimous decision. He was 16 years old at the time. Over the next four years he would go undefeated, finishing off as champion as IMMAF Amateur junior bantamweight champion in 2018 and 2019. Originally Mokaev started training in MMA at Kaobon MMA gym in Liverpool under the tutelage of Colin Heron. He worked and earned his gym membership by cleaning mats at the gym.
Mixed martial arts
Brave Combat Federation
Mokaev debuted on 1 August 2020, against Glenn McVeigh, in Sweden under the Brave Combat Federation 37 card. He scored a unanimous decision victory. He received a "Fight of the Night Bonus" for this fight.
His third fight was against Jamie Kelly, from Rochdale, fighting out of SBG gym under Martin Stapleton. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke, and received a "Fight of the Night" bonus.
His next fight was against Dave Jones under the Celtic Gladiator 28 promotion in Glasgow and he won the fight in the third round.
Mokaev faced Abdul Hussein at the Brave Combat Federation 49. It was described as "15 minutes of non-stop scrambling". The fight was won by decision by Mokaev.
His fight with Ibragim Nazurov at Brave Combat Federation 51 was ruled as a no-contest due to a low kick when Ibragim Nazurov was deemed unable to continue after absorbing a first round low blow.
He faced Blaine O'Driscoll at Brave Combat Federation 54 and won the fight via rear-naked choke in the second round.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On 17 November 2021, Mokaev signed with UFC.
Mokaev made his UFC debut against Cody Durden on 19 March 2022. He won the fight via guillotine choke in round one. With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.
Mokaev faced Charles Johnson in his second UFC bout on 23 July 2022, at UFC Fight Night 212. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Mokaev faced Malcolm Gordon on 22 October 2022, at UFC 280. He won the fight via armbar in the third round.
Mokaev faced Jafel Filho on 18 March 2023 at UFC 286. He won the fight via a neck crank submission in the third round.
Mokaev faced Tim Elliott at UFC 294 on October 21, 2023.He won the fight by arm triangle submission in the third round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Personal life
Mokaev married his wife, Khava Eldarbekova, in September 2020. He is a devout Muslim and has publicly criticized the act of Quran burning.
Mokaev became a UK citizen in 2021.
Mokaev is a supporter of the EFL League One football team Wigan Athletic and Betfred Super League rugby team, Wigan Warriors.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Cody Durden and Tim Elliott
- Tied (Alexandre Pantoja) for second most submissions in UFC Flyweight division history (4)
Mixed martial arts record
| 12 matches | 11 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 11–0 (1) | Tim Elliott | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 294 | October 21, 2023 | 3 | 3:03 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 10–0 (1) | Jafel Filho | Submission (neck crank) | UFC 286 | March 18, 2023 | 3 | 4:32 | London, England | |
| Win | 9–0 (1) | Malcolm Gordon | Submission (armbar) | UFC 280 | October 22, 2022 | 3 | 4:26 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 8–0 (1) | Charles Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall | July 23, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 7–0 (1) | Cody Durden | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall | March 19, 2022 | 1 | 0:58 | London, England | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 6–0 (1) | Blaine O'Driscoll | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Brave CF 54 | September 25, 2021 | 2 | 1:36 | Konin, Poland | Catchweight (130 lb) bout. |
| NC | 5–0 (1) | Ibragim Navruzov | NC (accidental groin kick) | Brave CF 51 | June 4, 2021 | 1 | 1:24 | Minsk, Belarus | Catchweight (130 lb) bout. An accidental groin kick rendered Navruzov unable to continue. |
| Win | 5–0 | Abdul Hussein | Decision (unanimous) | Brave CF 49 | March 25, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Manama, Bahrain | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 4–0 | Dave Jones | TKO (submission to punches) | Celtic Gladiator 28 | November 22, 2020 | 3 | 2:11 | Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jamie Kelly | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Brave CF 43 | October 1, 2020 | 3 | 2:11 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 2–0 | Hayden Sherriff | TKO (body kick and punches) | Celtic Gladiator 27 | August 22, 2020 | 1 | 0:51 | Manchester, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Glenn McVeigh | Decision (unanimous) | Brave CF 37 | August 1, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | Bantamweight debut. |
| Amateur record breakdown | ||
| 23 matches | 23 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 0 |
| By decision | 16 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 23–0 | Abdulla Mubarak | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2020 IMMAF-WMMAA Oceania Championships: Finals | 8 March 2020 | 1 | 1:29 | Gold Coast, Australia | Won IMMAF WMMAA OCEANA Championships. |
| Win | 22–0 | Abdulla Alyaqoob | Decision (unanimous) | 2020 IMMAF-WMMAA Oceania Championships: Semifinals | 7 March 2020 | 3 | 3:00 | Gold Coast, Australia | IMMAF WMMAA OCEANA Championships Semifinal. |
| Win | 21–0 | Reo Yamaguchi | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Junior World Championships: Day 4, Finals | 14 November 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 20–0 | Tynyshtyk Zhanibek | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Junior World Championships: Day 3, Cage 3 | 13 November 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 19–0 | Nikolay Atanasov | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Junior World Championships: Day 2, Cage 2 | 12 November 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 18–0 | Max Hynninen | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Junior World Championships: Day 1, Cage 1 | 11 November 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 17–0 | Mikey Boden | TKO (punches) | World Combat Fighting Championships 3: Way of the Warrior | 28 September 2019 | 2 | 2:10 | Manchester, England | |
| Win | 16–0 | Myles Richards | Decision (unanimous) | Caged Steel Fighting Championship 23 | 13 July 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Sheffield, England | Won vacant Caged Steel FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–0 | Reo Yamaguchi | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA European Junior Open Championships: Junior Finals | 22 June 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Rome, Italy | |
| Win | 14–0 | Batir Sharukhanov | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA European Junior Open Championships: Day 3 | 21 June 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Rome, Italy | |
| Win | 13–0 | Abanoub Fares | TKO (punches) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA European Junior Open Championships: Day 2 | 20 June 2019 | 1 | 2:32 | Rome, Italy | |
| Win | 12–0 | Ciaran Mulholland | Decision (unanimous) | UK Fighting Championships 9 | 23 March 2019 | 3 | 3:00 | Preston, England | Won vacant UKFC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–0 | Reo Yamaguchi | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Unified Junior World Championships: Day 5, Finals | 17 November 2018 | 3 | 3:00 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 10–0 | Ismael Zamora | Decision (unanimous) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Unified Junior World Championships: Day 4, Cage 1 | 15 November 2018 | 3 | 3:00 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 9–0 | Imran Satiev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Unified Junior World Championships: Day 2, Cage 3 | 14 November 2018 | 1 | 0:57 | Manama, Bahrain | |
| Win | 8–0 | Jack Eglin | TKO (slam & punches) | UK Fighting Championships 5 | 7 October 2017 | 2 | 2:25 | Flyweight, England | Won vacant UKFC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Sebastian Gonzalez | TKO (punches) | Tanko Fighting Championships 4 | 12 May 2017 | 1 | 0:37 | Manchester, England | |
| Win | 6–0 | Liam Gittins | Decision (unanimous) | Tanko Fighting Championships 3 | 11 February 2017 | 5 | 3:00 | Manchester, England | Won inaugural Tanko FC Amateur Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | Markus Hægland | Decision (unanimous) | Tanko Fighting Championships 2 | 3 December 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Manchester, England | |
| Win | 4–0 | Jose Rufino | TKO (punches) | ICE Fighting Championships 18 | 28 October 2016 | 2 | 1:27 | Bolton, England | |
| Win | 2–0 | Ash McCracken | Decision (unanimous) | Full Contact Contender 17 | 24 September 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Manchester, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jake Hinton | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shinobi War 6 | 28 November 2015 | 1 | 2:25 | Manchester, England |