Muhammad Mokaev quotes the Quran as he looks to move on from UFC adversity
Following his exit from the UFC, Muhammad Mokaev shared verses from the Quran on X. The UFC didn't offer 'The Punisher' a new contract after his win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, with promotional CEO Dana White slamming the flyweight at the post-fight presser.
Mokaev's numerous run-ins with Kape in the lead-up to their fight have been cited as a reason for his exit, with White revealing that the matchmakers aren't big fans of his. Moreover, his wrestling-heavy style and lackluster performance against 'Starboy' this past weekend are also key factors.
As is evident from his X posts, the undefeated 125-pounder is frustrated with the situation, considering his record and the progress he'd made in the UFC flyweight division. However, Mokaev recently took to X to share some verses from the Holy Book of Islam, writing:
"And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease."
In another post, he wrote:
"And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”
Mokaev's professional record stands at 13-0, and his UFC record is 7-0. He notably climbed all the way up to the No.6 spot in the rankings but couldn't secure the contract renewal he needed to continue his ascent.
Aljamain Sterling on Muhammad Mokaev's UFC exit: "I think it's f**ked up"
Following Muhammad Mokaev's exit from the UFC, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has come out in his support. 'Funk Master' believes there was no "real reason" to remove the flyweight from the roster.
He added that although Mokaev started the altercation with Manel Kape at the UFC P.I. earlier this year, he believes "it takes two to tango." Sterling said:
"I think it's f**ked up. I don't think there was any real reason to cut him. I mean, you could say the piggybacking of the fight at the [UFC Performance Institute], but that takes two to tango. I know Mokaev was the first one to talk s**t... To put your arm around someone to take a picture and then sucker punch them, I think that's a little bit too low for me. I don't know. I think that one is very, very dirty."
Check out Aljamain Sterling's comments below: