UFC 304 was set in the Co-op Live Arena, in England, among English fans. The fight card had seven fights that went to a decision. The UFC CEO, Dana White was not in the best of moods after seeing that. Interestingly, Muhammed Mokaev was one of the people who felt White’s wrath, even after coming up with a win.
The card featured several fights many would classify as boring, including the battle between Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape. Mokaev and Kape had tons of bad blood heading into the fight, and it appeared the two men were headed for a knock-down-drag-out fight. Instead, it featured the least action of any battle on the night. Interestingly, at the post-fight press conference, Dana White savagely announced the English fighter’s contract expiry.
Yeah, the matchmakers aren’t big fans of his for many different reasons… There are a lot of guys that fight with that type of style, but it’s a lot more than just that. He’s not under contract anymore. I think the PFL is going to get a great, undefeated guy. Good luck to him.
Dana White via UFC 304 press conference
White decided not to rehire the 23-year-old English fighter due to his fighting style. He also hinted about the rumored difficulty in conducting business with him. The UFC boss even suggested an undefeated fighter like Mokaev might be a good signing for PFL. After introducing Donald Trump a few weeks back, Dana White again came up with a masterclass way to present himself to the public. These short talks are among the most entertaining content in the combat sports world.
Interestingly, UFC is adamant about releasing Mokaev even after his winning performance on Saturday night. Despite this, the 23-year-old English fighter holds a different opinion. He was convinced that his performance against Manel Kape was exceptional. Mokaev was optimistic about getting his contract renewed.
Muhammad Mokaev talks about his UFC contract situation
Both Mokaev and Kape couldn’t hold themselves back ahead of their highly anticipated fight. They even had a nasty brawl at the UFC fighter hotel. However, there was an interesting development when the fight between Mokaev and Kape was unexpectedly relocated to the UFC Fight Pass Prelims. The fight was potentially the third most important fight of the evening concerning title implications.
Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304 (via X)Mokaev had an unblemished record in the UFC and was on the brink of earning his much-desired title opportunity. Following his latest fight, the 23-year-old British fighter eagerly anticipated securing a new contract with the UFC. He made it clear during the post-fight press conference that he aspired to compete for the championship in his next bout.
They said they’re going to see how I perform… They don’t want to see me keep shooting and taking somebody down but I’ve done what I could do with, like, tonight. They don’t like this…
Muhammad Mokaev via UFC 304 post fight press conference
Meanwhile, Dana White later confirmed Mokaev’s departure from the UFC. Apart from UFC, there are several promotions like PFL and Bellator, where he might shine again. However, now it remains to be seen how the future of such a talent will unfold.
