A Salford-based MMA fighter has revealed he will be fighting in a major mixed martial arts event next year.
Muhammad Mokaev, 22, is set to fight in the UFC’s next UK event, ‘UFC 286‘.
Mokaev made his UFC debut in March of this year and he has already earned three dominant victories, and there’s no doubt he will be looking to make it four when the UFC returns to the O2 Arena on Saturday 18 March.
Mokaev’s previous fight was on the UFC 280 preliminary rounds, in Abu Dhabi at the end of October, where he picked up the win against Canadian opponent Malcom Gordon, via an armbar submission.
Mokaev ‘The Punisher’ competes in the UFC’s flyweight division and he is currently ranked #14 in the division, which should be enough to land him a spot on the main fight card. Although his fight is yet to be announced, Mokaev confirmed on Twitter that he would be making an appearance in the O2 next year.
It remains unknown who Mokaev will face in March, but he has openly spoken about his dream to become the youngest UFC champion in history and his desire to fight for the title next year, so fighting somebody higher up in the rankings would be the logical fight.
In a recent interview with BT Sport he said: “I want to please fight a top 15 guy next any name, (David) Dvorak didn’t accept the fight, Jeff Molina’s manager said to me we will let you know but he fights somebody else.”
The current record for the youngest UFC champion is held by Jon Jones, who captured the title at the age of 23 years and 242 days. Mokaev has until March 2024 to break Jones’ record and with his current progress that dream seems entirely achievable.
ESPN named Mokaev the best male UFC fighter under 25 years old, and the third overall MMA fighter under 25 years of age. If Mokaev continues to be victorious then there’s every chance the flyweight title and the record will come back to Salford with him.
The UFC held two events in the UK this year both taking place in the O2 Arena, and both headlined by Salford-born heavyweight Tom Aspinall.
Once again, the UFC will return to the O2 Arena in March 2023, and, for the first time since Britain’s first UFC champion Michael Bisping headlined six years ago, the event will be a numbered pay-per-view.
UFC 286 will look to build on the success of this years Fight Night events with UFC president Dana White confirming that the UK will finally host another title fight, and it’s more than likely going to be a British champion competing.
In a press release the UFC boss said: “Everyone knows how much I love our fans in the UK, we had two incredible shows in London in 2022, and this time we’re bringing a world title fight with the biggest and baddest card we could put together at the O2 on March 18.”
White confirmed during an appearance on The Chatting Pony podcast that “It’s going to be Usman vs Edwards; I think it’s in March.”
Over the coming months more will be revealed about the event but the UK fight fans will show up in their masses regardless and Salford will certainly be represented, and hopefully more Salford MMA fighters will be inspired to take up the sport.
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