Muhammad Mokaev claims to be only challenger for Pantoja

Video Screenshot – Youtube

Muhammad Mokaev, with a perfect record of 11-0 in the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and 5-0 in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), sees himself as the most logical choice for Alexandre Pantoja’s next title defense at UFC 301.

Facing a landscape where injuries and setbacks have impacted several leading competitors, Mokaev sees a direct route to the championship if he emerges victorious in his upcoming bout at UFC Fight Night 238.

Scheduled to compete against veteran Alex Perez, who holds a record of 24-7 in MMA and 6-3 in the UFC, Mokaev has already calculated the steps required for a subsequent fight against Alexander Pantoja.

Predictions and Expectations

During the media day for UFC Fight Night 238 on Wednesday, Mokaev shared insights on the current state of the flyweight division, highlighting the challenges faced by his potential competitors. He mentioned Brandon Royval’s torn ACL, Brandon Moreno’s lack of success against Pantoja with a record of 0-3, and Royval’s own 0-2 record against the same opponent.

Brandon Royval, I believe he’s dealing with a torn ACL

Muhammad Mokaev

He also pointed out Manel Kape’s need for an additional fight due to a previous failure to make weight, Amir Albazi’s injury, and Kai Kara-France’s recovery from a concussion, revealing that discussions about fighting Kara-France were halted when Mick Maynard, the matchmaker, updated him on Kara-France’s condition.

Mokaev emphasized that these circumstances position him as the primary contender for the title, contingent on a decisive victory over Alex Perez. The narrative surrounding the next title shot has evolved, especially after Moreno’s recent defeat to Royval, who has also been bested by Pantoja.

Pantoja wants to keep his title and is open to Mokaev and Royval as potential contenders for his upcoming title defense, but he humorously expressed openness to face any fighter worldwide, even an ‘unknown fighter’ from any organization, as long as he remains part of UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro.

Despite the lack of official confirmation, there is substantial speculation that the UFC plans to organize a fight featuring Pantoja at UFC 301, scheduled for May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is Pantoja’s home city.