UFC signs Muhammad Mokaev, former IMMAF champion and highly touted prospect

Muhammad Mokaev has been in the spotlight for some time now, despite having just six professional fights under his belt.

On Wednesday, however, the spotlight became even brighter after the UFC announced it has signed Mokaev (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to its roster. No debut date or opponent was included for the bantamweight fighter.

A former IMMAF champion, Mokaev gained recognition for unparalleled dominance as an amateur fighter. According to Mokaev, his MMA record is currently 30-0 overall. Leading MMA database Tapology currently has him listed at 22-0 as an amateur, 5-0 as a professional, and 1-0 in exhibition fights.

In 2020, Mokaev turned professional and won his debut via unanimous decision at Brave CF 37. He’d compete four more times under the promotion’s banner and go 3-0 with one no contest and three finishes. Mokaev most recently competed in September when he defeated Blaine O’Driscoll at Brave CF 54.

“I believe this 100 percent: I don’t need to go through the Contender Series to let people know about me,” Mokaev told MMA Junkie in May after he said he turned down an offer to fight on Dana White’s Contender Series. “I deserve straight road to the UFC.”

Originally from Dagestan, Mokaev fights out of the United Kingdom. Upon his signing, Mokaev, 21, becomes the second youngest fighter on the UFC roster behind China’s Rong Zhu.