Dana White’s UFC accused of protecting Jon Jones ‘youngest champion’ record by flyweight contender

UFC flyweight contender Muhammad “The Punisher” Mokaev failed to overthrow Jon Jones as the youngest champion. However, he puts the blame for that on the promotion’s preference. The Dagestani fighter had an extensive undefeated amateur record and a flawless start to his professional career.

Mokaev entered the MMA spotlight in 2022 with significant hype surrounding him. In a recent interview with Title Sports Network, Mokaev looked forward to his upcoming return to action at UFC 304. When asked about his goals, the Punisher expressed reluctance to outline future plans. It was because he failed to achieve his ambition of becoming the UFC’s youngest champion.

I believe I could have been the youngest UFC champion. Jon Jones was 23 years old and 9 months when he became champion. I’m 23 too… I think I could’ve gotten there… Jon Jones is a star, and they (the UFC) want to keep him there.
Muhammad Mokaev via TitleSportsNet

Mokaev signed with the UFC at the end of 2021, as he was just 21 then. He had made it clear he wanted to become the youngest UFC champion in history. The Punisher started out his UFC tenure with a 58-second win over Cody Durden. He then picked up two more wins in 2022 to end the year 3-0 and in contention at flyweight.

The Dagestan-born flyweight even backed himself to have gold wrapped around his waist at a younger age than record-holder Jones. However, March 2024 marked when Mokaev saw his hopes of breaking Jones’ youngest champ record slip away. Nevertheless, he maintains that if given the opportunity, he’d be the one sitting in the record books right now.

Muhammad Mokaev talks about Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall’s meeting

Jon Jones is currently uncertain about what lies ahead after defending his title against Stipe Miocic in the near future. Nonetheless, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is actively seeking a bout to unify the titles. Recently, he managed to catch Jones off guard at a meet-and-greet earlier this year.

Muhammad Mokaev talks about Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall face-off (via Instagram)

In a recent interview with TNT Sports, Muhammad Mokaev shared his insights on the intense faceoff between the heavyweight fighters. Mokaev discussed Jones’s body language during his encounter with the interim champion. He even shed light on the unspoken dynamics at play during their interaction.

I always look at the body, mechanics of the person. The thing he put on his shoulder, I think Jon is aware that he’s a challenge… If he wasn’t a real challenge, he would hug him back, take a photo, and say, ‘Kid, all the best.’ You know but he didn’t.
Muhammad Mokaev via TNT Sports

The interim heavyweight champ has expressed an interest in facing either Jones or Miocic. However, Jones and Miocic have expressed that the heavyweight title bout will continue as planned. It has left Aspinall waiting in the wings.

Miocic and Jones were originally scheduled to clash at UFC 295 in November. However, ‘Bones’ was forced to withdraw from the fight due to a tendon tear. The heavyweight title has yet to come at stake since Jones won the prestigious title by defeating Ciryl Gane.