Unbeaten Mokaev answers Dana White's challenge with five wins and two titles outside UFC

Muhammad Mokaev is making his case for a UFC comeback, and he is doing it with hardware. The unbeaten flyweight (17-0) took to social media to tag UFC CEO Dana White after claiming the ACBJJ 60kg division title with a decision victory over Moris Boleian at ACBJJ 22 in Istanbul, Turkey — his fifth win since leaving the promotion in 2024.

The 26-year-old’s message was a direct response to a remark White made around the time the UFC declined to renew his contract. “Dana said two years ago, ‘he can become champion somewhere else,’” Mokaev said in a video posted on X. “Yes, I became Brave CF champion. I became ACB jiu-jitsu champion. I won five fights, four finishes within two years, staying busy, staying active and showing the world why I’m the best flyweight in the world. Taking over the 125 division outside of UFC and I’m going to keep grinding. I’m still 26.”

Since his departure, Mokaev has been relentlessly active across multiple disciplines. In MMA, he captured the Brave CF flyweight championship in November and followed it with another finish in the Spanish promotion WOW. He also competed in Karate Combat, recording a second-round stoppage victory. The ACBJJ title over Boleian is his latest addition to a growing list of accomplishments outside the octagon.

Mokaev’s exit from the UFC was contentious. The promotion chose not to renew his contract after a win over Manel Kape that was widely considered underwhelming — a result that reportedly did not sit well with UFC leadership, particularly given the friction between the two fighters in the build-up to the bout. At the time, Mokaev was a ranked flyweight contender, and the decision drew criticism from parts of the MMA community.

Whether the UFC will respond to his campaign remains to be seen, but Mokaev has done everything he can to keep his name in the conversation. A perfect professional record, multiple titles across different combat sports, and a willingness to compete everywhere and often make him a difficult case to ignore at 125 pounds.