Muhammad Mokaev (born 30 July 2000) is an English professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the

Flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb). Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of b ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

(UFC). He formerly competed in

Brave Combat Federation BRAVE Combat Federation is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in the Middle East. The organization was established on 23 September 2016 by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. BRAVE Combat Federation features mixed martial artists from ...

(BCF). As of June 13, 2023, he is #11 in the UFC flyweight rankings.

Background

Mokaev was born in

Buynaksk Buynaksk (russian: Буйна́кск; kum, Шура / Темирхан-Шура, ''Şura / Temirxan-Şura'') is a town in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, located at the foothills of the Greater Caucasus on the Shura-Ozen River, southwest of ...

Dagestan Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North ...

, Russia, to a Kumyk family. His father and him moved to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

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 Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling originated from Great Britain and the United States. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games. American high school and men's college 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 Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting ( ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...

and

submission wrestling Submission wrestling, also known as Submission grappling, Submission fighting a form of competition and a general term for martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission through ...

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

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 Cody Durden (born March 29, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background A 2009 graduate of Eastside High School, he wrestled under coach Michael Smith-Foot, l ...

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 ''UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on October 22, 2022, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Background A UFC Lightweight Champion ...

. 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 is scheduled to face Tim Elliott at UFC 294 on 21 October 2023.

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 Quran desecration is the treatment of the Quran, in its original Arabic form, in a way that might be considered disrespectful or insulting. Respect for the Quran as a holy book, as in other faiths, is an important element of religious faith in ...

. Mokaev is a supporter of the EFL League One football team

Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic Football Club () is an English professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 193 ...

and Betfred Super League rugby team,

Wigan Warriors The Wigan Warriors are a professional rugby league club in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in the Super League. Formed in 1872 as Wigan Football Club, Wigan was a founding member of the Rugby Football League, Northern Rugby ...

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

** Performance of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, , Jafel Filho , Submission (neck crank) , UFC 286 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:32 ,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 9–0 (1) , Malcolm Gordon , Submission (armbar) ,

, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:26 , Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates , , - , Win , align=center, 8–0 (1) , Charles Johnson , Decision (unanimous) , UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 (1) ,

, Submission (guillotine choke) , UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:58 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 (1) , Blaine O'Driscoll , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Brave CF 54 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:36 ,

Konin Konin (german: Kunau) is a city in central Poland, on the Warta River. It is the capital of Konin County and is located within the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Prior to 1999, it was the capital of the Konin Voivodeship (1975–1998). In 2021 the ...

, Poland , , - , NC , align=center, 5–0 (1) , Ibragim Navruzov , NC (accidental groin kick) , Brave CF 51 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:24 ,

Minsk Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative stat ...

, Belarus , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Abdul Hussein , Decision (unanimous) , Brave CF 49 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Manama Manama ( ar, المنامة ', Bahrani pronunciation: ) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 200,000 people as of 2020. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very d ...

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Dave Jones , TKO (submission to punches) , Celtic Gladiator 28 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:11 ,

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...

, Scotland , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Jamie Kelly , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Brave CF 43 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:11 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Hayden Sherriff , TKO (body kick and punches) , Celtic Gladiator 27 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:51 ,

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of City of Salford, Salford to ...

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Glenn McVeigh , Decision (unanimous) , Brave CF 37 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Stockholm, Sweden , , - , - , Win , align=center, 23–0 , Abdulla Mubarak , Submission (rear-naked choke) , IMMAF 2020 WMMAA Open Championships , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:29 , Gold Coast, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 22–0 , Abdulla Alyaqoob , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF 2020 WMMAA Open Championships , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 , Gold Coast, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 21–0 , Reo Yamaguchi , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF 2019 World Championships , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 20–0 , Tynyshtyk Zhanibek , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF 2019 World Championships , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 19–0 , Nikolay Atanasov , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF 2019 World Championships , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 18–0 , Max Hynninen , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF 2019 World Championships , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 17–0 , Mikey Boden , TKO (punches) , WCFC3 Championships , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:10 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 16–0 , Myles Richards , Decision (unanimous) , Caged Steel Fighting Championship 23 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 15–0 , Reo Yamaguchi , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF European Championship , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, Italy , , - , Win , align=center, 14–0 , Batir Sharukhanov , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF European Senior and Junior Championship , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Italy , , - , Win , align=center, 13–0 , Abanoub Fares , TKO (punches) , IMMAF European Senior and Junior Championship , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:32 ,

, Italy , , - , Win , align=center, 12–0 , Ciaran Mulholland , Decision (unanimous) , UK Fighting Championship , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

Preston Preston is a place name, surname and given name that may refer to: Places England *Preston, Lancashire, an urban settlement **The City of Preston, Lancashire, a borough and non-metropolitan district which contains the settlement **County Boro ...

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 11–0 , Reo Yamaguchi , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF 2018 World Championships , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 10–0 , Ismael Zamora , Decision (unanimous) , IMMAF World Senior and Junior Championship , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 9–0 , Imran Satiev , Submission (rear-naked choke) , IMMAF Championship , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:57 ,

, Bahrain , , - , Win , align=center, 8–0 , Jack Eglin , TKO (slam & punches) , UK Fighting Championships 5 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:25 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Sebastian Gonzalez , TKO (punches) , Tanko FC 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:37 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Liam Gittins , Decision (unanimous) , Tanko FC 3 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Markus Hægland , Decision (unanimous) , Tanko FC 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Jose Rufino , TKO (punches) , ICE FC 18 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:27 ,

Bolton Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish weavers settled in the area in the 14th ce ...

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Ash McCracken , Decision (unanimous) , Full Contact Contender 17 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Jake Hinton , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Shinobi War 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:25 ,

, England , , -

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mokaev, Muhammad Kumyks Dagestani mixed martial artists Russian male mixed martial artists English male mixed martial artists Flyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing freestyle wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Russian Muslims English Muslims Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Russian male sport wrestlers British male sport wrestlers Russian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu English practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Sportspeople from Dagestan Living people 2000 births

Background

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Mixed martial arts

Brave Combat Federation

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Personal life

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

See also

References

External links