Mokaev rejects UFC BJJ title shot against Musumeci, demanding full MMA contract in return

Muhammad Mokaev turned down a UFC BJJ title match against Mikey Musumeci after the promotion declined to bundle the grappling appearance with a full return to its flyweight MMA division, the unbeaten British fighter has revealed.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Mokaev said he was offered $10,000 to face Musumeci under the UFC BJJ banner and was willing to accept — but only if the bout came with a UFC contract attached. When the promotion made clear the grappling event was separate from its MMA plans, Mokaev walked away.

“They said, ‘No, this is different. BJJ is different. This is different. We have other plans.’ I told them where to go,” Mokaev said.

The 17-0 Dagestan-born Brit departed the UFC controversially in 2024 after the promotion opted not to re-sign him following a lacklustre victory over top-ranked flyweight Manel Kape. Despite his perfect professional record, Mokaev’s pre-fight conduct ahead of that bout is reported to have soured relations with senior UFC executives.

Since leaving the organisation, Mokaev has added four more wins to his unbeaten ledger while remaining active across grappling and wrestling competitions. His willingness to face Musumeci — one of the most decorated submission grapplers in the world — underlines that his objection was never to the opponent, but to the terms on offer.

Mokaev has made no secret of his desire to return to the UFC’s flyweight division, and the rejection of the BJJ match appears to be a calculated move to avoid being sidelined in a grappling showcase while his MMA career stalls. With 21 victories across all formats and no defeats, he remains one of the more compelling cases for a UFC reinstatement in the 125-pound weight class.