Muhammad Mokaev’s post-fight confessions may have cost him his job.
Unbeaten youngster Mokaev (13-0, 1 no-kicks) is coming off a lackluster win over rival Kape (19-7) in front of his home crowd in Manchester, England, in a prelim bout at UFC 304. Prior to the fight, UFC featherweight Jean Silva reported that Kape had punched Mokaev outside the UFC Performance Institute, but Kape denied the reports, saying they were just exaggerated by a friend to promote the fight.
The week of the fight, Mokaev and Kape’s teams were caught on video brawling at the fighters’ hotel after the weigh-ins for UFC 304. Kape later posted a photo of Mokaev with a cut on his forehead, but the Dagestan-born Briton shared a photo of his uninjured face along with a screenshot of Kape appearing to have collapsed. Kape’s coach, Eric Nicksick of Extreme Couture, subsequently accused Mokaev of tricking the Angolan into punching him under the pretext of taking a photo together.
Kape and Mokaev looked ready to attack each other as soon as they reached the confines of the Octagon, and the promotion had the foresight to deploy extra security during the announcements. Contrary to expectations, the bout fizzled out, with Mokaev winning by unanimous decision after Kape suffered an apparent toe injury.
Mokaev later admitted to sneaking Kape in the post-fight press conference and explained why: Mokaev claimed Kape headbutted him in Las Vegas just days before his bout with Alex Perez in March. Mokaev was criticized for a disappointing and easy performance, but “The Punisher” said he was trying to protect a cut that required stitches from Kape’s headbutt, which may explain why a photo posted by Kape was mistakenly linked to a photo from a recent brawl.
They later appeared to make amends, but Kape vowed to punch Mokaev again in a video posted by Silva. Mokaev explained that his tough upbringing forced him to fight back against bullies. When Mokaev refused to let Kape get close to him ahead of UFC 304, the 23-year-old Kape admitted that he called him to take a photo with him, but then he started punching him.
“This fight was important for me,” Mokaev explained in the post-fight press conference. “I met Manel five days before the Alex Perez fight and I got headbutted. If you watch the Alex Perez fight, you can see that. [to] Cut and fight with about 8 people [stiches on] Eyebrows…Everyone thought I was a boring wrestler. But I was on my knees defending myself. [myself from opening] My share was kept secret from anyone. And we settled it, and I shook hands with Manel…Anyone who asked me what happened in Las Vegas, I told them it was between me and Cape, and I was staying in Las Vegas.”
Mokaev continued, “Then he said he’d give it a second go when he gets to Manchester. I couldn’t get close to him in the hotel so I said, ‘Let’s go take a photo’ and when he got there I dropped him. That’s the only way. I’m not Alex Perez and I’m not someone that someone comes and bullies me. I grew up in a tough environment. Life was hard and I don’t give a damn to people who bully me.”
Mokaev and Kape appeared to put bygones in a display of sportsmanship inside the cage following their bout at UFC 304. Mokaev declined to comment further on what happened.
“Whatever happened, let’s keep it between me and Manel. I don’t want to say anything bad about him. He lost, he has a family, he has kids… He’s in it to make money for his family. It’s time to stop. Once you beat someone, you don’t want to talk about a guy anymore. I wish him the best. I’m still young but I have a strong heart,” concluded “The Punisher.”
Since Mokaev’s comments, UFC president Dana White has suggested that Mokaev has fought out his contract with UFC and will not be re-signing with the organization. White cited rival organization Professional Fighters League as a potential destination for the Dagestan-born flyweight fighter, sarcastically congratulating another organization on signing Mokaev in the future.
