Muhammad Mokaev

Muhammad Mokaev (born 30 July 2000) is a Russian-born 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.[3]

Muhammad Mokaev
Mokaev in 2022
BornMuhammad Mokaev
(2000-07-30) 30 July 2000
Buynaksk, Dagestan, Russia
Other namesThe Punisher
ResidenceManchester, Greater Manchester, England
NationalityBritish
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
DivisionBantamweight (2016–2020)
Flyweight (2021–present)
Reach70 in (178 cm) [1]
StyleFreestyle wrestling, Submission grappling
Fighting out ofManchester, England
TeamKHK MMA
Aspire Combat Sports Academy (2015–present)[2]
RankPurple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2020–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total12
Wins11
By knockout2
By submission6
By decision3
Losses0
No contests1
Amateur record
Total23
Wins23
By knockout4
By submission3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  England
Men's freestyle wrestling
British Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Manchester 65 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Bolton 65 kg
English Nationals
Gold medal – first place 2019 Salford 61 kg
Silver medal – second place 2018 Salford 61 kg
Men's submission grappling
ADCC UK Championships
Gold medal – first place2019 Manchester 65 kg (INT)
Gold medal – first place2018 Manchester 65 kg (INT)

Background

Mokaev was born in Buynaksk, Dagestan, Russia, to a Kumyk family. His father and him moved to England at the age of 12, soon after his mother passed away.[4] 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.[5][6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9][10][11] 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.[12][13][14][15]

Mokaev picked up Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling as well, becoming a two-time ADCC UK champion (intermediate division) in the latter.[16][17]

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.[18] 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.[18]

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.[19] He received a "Fight of the Night Bonus" for this fight.[20]

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.[21]

His next fight was against Dave Jones under the Celtic Gladiator 28 promotion in Glasgow and he won the fight in the third round.[22]

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.[23]

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.[24]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On 17 November 2021, Mokaev signed with UFC.[25]

Mokaev made his UFC debut against Cody Durden on 19 March 2022.[26] He won the fight via guillotine choke in round one.[27] With this win, he received the Performance of the Night award.[28]

Mokaev faced Charles Johnson in his second UFC bout on 23 July 2022, at UFC Fight Night 212.[29] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[30]

Mokaev faced Malcolm Gordon on 22 October 2022, at UFC 280.[31] He won the fight via armbar in the third round.[32]

Mokaev faced Jafel Filho on 18 March 2023 at UFC 286.[33] He won the fight via a neck crank submission in the third round.[34]

Mokaev faced Tim Elliott at UFC 294 on October 21, 2023.[35] He won the fight by arm triangle submission in the third round.[36] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[37]

Personal life

Mokaev married his wife, Khava Eldarbekova, in September 2020.[38][39] He is a devout Muslim and has publicly criticized the act of Quran burning.[40]

Mokaev became a UK citizen in 2021.[41]

Mokaev is a supporter of the EFL League One football team Wigan Athletic and Betfred Super League rugby team, Wigan Warriors.[42]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
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.

[44]

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 23–0 Abdulla Mubarak Submission (rear-naked choke) IMMAF 2020 WMMAA Open Championships 8 March 2020 1 1:29 Gold Coast, Australia Won IMMAF WMMAA OCEANA Championships.
Win 22–0 Abdulla Alyaqoob Decision (unanimous) IMMAF 2020 WMMAA Open Championships 7 March 2020 3 3:00 Gold Coast, Australia IMMAF WMMAA OCEANA Championships Semifinal.
Win 21–0 Reo Yamaguchi Decision (unanimous) IMMAF 2019 World Championships 14 November 2019 3 3:00 Manama, Bahrain
Win 20–0 Tynyshtyk Zhanibek Decision (unanimous) IMMAF 2019 World Championships 13 November 2019 3 3:00 Manama, Bahrain
Win 19–0 Nikolay Atanasov Decision (unanimous) IMMAF 2019 World Championships 12 November 2019 3 3:00 Manama, Bahrain
Win 18–0 Max Hynninen Decision (unanimous) IMMAF 2019 World Championships 11 November 2019 3 3:00 Manama, Bahrain
Win 17–0 Mikey Boden TKO (punches) WCFC3 Championships 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) IMMAF European Championship 22 June 2019 3 3:00 Rome, Italy
Win 14–0 Batir Sharukhanov Decision (unanimous) IMMAF European Senior and Junior Championship 21 June 2019 3 3:00 Rome, Italy
Win 13–0 Abanoub Fares TKO (punches) IMMAF European Senior and Junior Championship 20 June 2019 1 2:32 Rome, Italy
Win 12–0 Ciaran Mulholland Decision (unanimous) UK Fighting Championship 23 March 2019 3 3:00 Preston, England Won vacant UKFC Bantamweight Championship.
Win 11–0 Reo Yamaguchi Decision (unanimous) IMMAF 2018 World Championships 17 November 2018 3 3:00 Manama, Bahrain
Win 10–0 Ismael Zamora Decision (unanimous) IMMAF World Senior and Junior Championship 15 November 2018 3 3:00 Manama, Bahrain
Win 9–0 Imran Satiev Submission (rear-naked choke) IMMAF Championship 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 FC 4 12 May 2017 1 0:37 Manchester, England
Win 6–0 Liam Gittins Decision (unanimous) Tanko FC 3 11 February 2017 5 3:00 Manchester, England Won inaugural Tanko FC Amateur Flyweight Championship.
Win 5–0 Markus Hægland Decision (unanimous) Tanko FC 2 3 December 2016 3 3:00 Manchester, England
Win 4–0 Jose Rufino TKO (punches) ICE FC 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

[44]

See also

References
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