Why ex-UFC star Muhammad Mokaev's return is 'absolutely huge' for BRAVE Combat Federation

7 min read
Aug 29, 2024, 6:09 PM
Muhammad Mokaev

Muhammad Mokaev // Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

One of the biggest MMA stories of the summer saw the UFC part ways with one of the most talented flyweight fighters in the world as they opted not to offer a new contract to undefeated English contender Muhammad Mokaev.

Dagestan-born Mokaev had just defeated Manel Kape at UFC 304 in Manchester, but by that point, it appeared there had been a schism between fighter and promotion. With Mokaev's win over Kape being the last fight of his UFC contract, UFC CEO Dana White subsequently revealed that the promotion would not be re-signing him.

With Mokaev's UFC departure making him an MMA free agent, the big question was over where "The Punisher" would land next. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) currently doesn't have an active flyweight division, while other options may have offered Mokaev the chance to compete on the European or Asian scenes.  

Tweet loading...

But the most likely option was always a return to BRAVE Combat Federation. Mokaev turned professional with the Bahrain-based promotion in 2020 and won five fights under the BRAVE CF banner before signing for the UFC in 2022.

Now, with his career standing at 12-0 (1 no contest) as a pro, following a glittering 23-0 amateur career that saw him win two IMMAF World Championships, Mokaev is heading "home" to BRAVE.

One man who knows Mokaev well is BRAVE CF play-by-play commentator Phll Campbell, who chatted exclusively to RG.org to give his thoughts on "The Punisher's" return to the promotion.

"Mo coming back into BRAVE is absolutely huge, and it has the ability to change the complexion of not only the flyweight division, but also the bantamweight division," he explained.

"There are rumblings that [former bantamweight champion] Jose "Shorty" Torres is returning to the flyweight division. We also have guys like Velimurad Alkhazov and Flavio de Queiroz. I think the flyweight and bantamweight divisions are going to be very healthy.  

"Not only that, but we have Gerard Burns floating about. He is, for my money, the dark horse of the division, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what's coming up."

Mokaev's departure from the UFC was in part due to issues behind the scenes, with UFC boss White suggesting that Mokaev's exit from the promotion was self-inflicted.

“I wasn’t involved in any of the stuff that happened with him,” the UFC boss said during a post-fight press conference after Dana White's Contender Series earlier this month.

"The matchmakers and Hunter (Campbell) were, and they weren’t happy with him. They weren’t happy with the way he acted. They weren’t happy with a lot of the things he did and said.

"I guess you can look back now and regret it, but you did it. You did it, and you put yourself in this position.”

While the UFC and Mokaev appear to have clashed, there has never been an issue between the fighter and BRAVE, who have welcomed him back into the fold with open arms.

"I know that many question marks have been raised about his attitude and his conduct," said BRAVE’s Campbell.

"I think that's a little bit hypocritical of the UFC, given the conduct that some of its fighters have engaged in. Even my countryman, Conor McGregor, being one of them, with the likes of the dolly incident and the antics at press conferences.

"So, I think to say Mo is difficult is a bit of a misnomer. I have never experienced that in my time working with him, and have found him to be nothing but polite and humble.

“We forget that he's just turned 24 years of age, and he's had a ridiculous spotlight thrust upon him. The weight of the MMA world has been on his shoulders, and he's still learning to cope with the pressures of being a world-renowned athlete."

While BRAVE CF are sure they’re getting a good human being, they also know that by re-signing Mokaev they’re adding one of the world’s elite flyweights to their roster.

"We're talking about a four-time IMMAF gold medalist, a guy who essentially completed amateur MMA before signing with BRAVE, where he had an incredible run," said Campbell.

"I believe he is the most decorated amateur in the history of mixed martial arts, and I firmly believe that he can be one of the most decorated professionals in MMA, so the sky really is the limit."

Mokaev’s return to BRAVE was also hailed by one of the promotion’s top stars. Super welterweight contender Alex Lohore is well on his way to challenging for championship gold in the promotion, and said the signing showed the heart of the organization.

“That is great. That is lovely news,” he told RG.org.  

“First of all, they're just helping a guy out that has just lost his job for no particular reason –just a bit of ego stuff. So, just for that, for the human side of things, it’s great.  

"It's great to be working with an organization who's actually caring about people. Most of these organizations don't care about anyone. They just want to make money.

"I don't feel like BRAVE needed to sign him. But, because of what he's done and what he's established and how he is as a fighter, they just felt like it was needed for him, for them to help him. And that's what they did.

“They've helped him. They’ve given him a platform and they’ve given him a job so he can now do what he loves to do, and it's great. That's why there's nothing bad I can say about this organization.

BRAVE’s decision to sign Mokaev wasn’t just an altruistic one, however. Campbell also hinted that Mokaev’s return to BRAVE could open the possibility of the promotion returning to the UK. With Mokaev on the roster, they now have a man around whom they can potentially build a UK-based event.

"There's only ever been one show in the UK, BRAVE CF 24, in London," Campbell pointed out.

"I believe that with the re-signing of Mo, that opens up an entirely different avenue to us in the north of England, with his connections to Manchester, his connections to Liverpool, with [coach and teammate] Dean Garnett.

"Not only will it help Mo, but it will also help BRAVE CF's continued expansion into the European, and indeed the UK and Irish market. I'm very excited to see what happens moving forward.

"I can't wait to be on the call for his re-debut with BRAVE CF which, personally, I hope happens before the end of the year. I haven't heard any rumblings at this stage, but the fan in me would love to see that before the end of the year.”

Simon is a sports journalist and MMA reporter with 25+ years' experience covering sports and 15+ years covering mixed martial arts as one of the UK's longest-tenured MMA journalists. He also has more than a decade of experience working in the betting and gaming industry.

He has provided coverage for a plethora of major sports outlets, including BBC Sport, USA Today, Daily Mirror and BT Sport, and has covered Olympic Games, World Cups, FA Cup Finals and UFC title fights during his career.

Interests:
UFC
NFL
EPL
F1
MotoGP

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Our Authors

Paruyr Shahbazyan began his business career in 2000 as a private entrepreneur. Over thirteen years, he developed a deep understanding for business and leadership, laying a solid foundation for his professional journey.

In 2013, Paruyr stepped into the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating. This online mass media platform, which he led until 2020, focused on providing in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting, earning a reputation for its quality content. 

Continuing his innovative approach in 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This venture showcases his dedication to integrating advanced technology in the evolving landscape of sports betting. Through these diverse experiences, Paruyr has continuously influenced and shaped the betting industry, driving new trends and setting high standards.

 ExperienceYear
Engaged in private entrepreneurship2000-2013
Founder and President at Bookmaker Rating, an online platform focused on sports and betting2013-2020
Co-founder at Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol2022

"Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports." 

- Paruyr Shahbazyan, Founder, RG

 

Principles and Ethics

Paruyr Shahbazyan's core beliefs lie in the power of informed decision-making and integrity in the betting industry. He understands that the foundation of successful betting is not just about odds and predictions, but also about the trust and reliability of the information provided. Paruyr advocates for a betting environment where transparency and knowledge are paramount, ensuring that bettors are well-equipped with accurate data and insights.

Strategic Vision

Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports betting industry through the integration of technology. He sees the future of betting as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. His aim is to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical betting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable betting culture.

Future Perspectives

Looking towards the future, Paruyr envisions a betting landscape that is more inclusive, technologically advanced, and globally connected. He anticipates a significant shift towards more decentralized and transparent betting systems, driven by blockchain technology. Paruyr is committed to being at the forefront of this change, continuously exploring new possibilities and innovations that can redefine what it means to engage in sports betting in a digital world. His focus is on building systems that prioritize user empowerment, fairness, and the global growth of the sports betting community.

 

Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Editor-in-Chief

Sol has over 20 years of experience in writing for diverse industries including sports, gambling, regulation, technology, and startups. As the Editor-in-Chief at RG, Sol brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, focusing on delivering transparent, evidence-based content grounded in thorough research. Sol's mission is to empower readers to enjoy gambling responsibly and make informed decisions, enhancing their overall experience through insightful and engaging content. Under Sol's leadership, RG prioritizes the highest standards of integrity and reliability, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and trustworthy. Sol's dedication to transparency and research-based writing helps create a responsible gambling environment where readers can truly benefit from the content. This commitment to excellence has positioned RG as a leading source of information in the gambling industry.

Experience:

  • Over 20 years in writing and editing across multiple industries
  • Former head of regional innovation at BMO Financial Group
  • Senior Writer, Online Casino Reports
Cristina Varela Galan
Cristina Varela Galan
Problem Gambling Expert

Cristina used to work as a Psychology Assistant in the Bizkaia Pathological and Risky Gamblers Association. She was also part of a research team in Deusto University, specializing in pathological gambling area. While working there, she managed to develop her own project 

 “Exploring the association between emotional regulation, alexithymia, stressful life events and gambling in adolescent and young adult women”.

Nick Ashbourne
Nick Ashbourne
Senior Writer

Nick has been fascinated with sports since he was first taken to a Toronto Maple Leafs game back in 1998, and he's written about them professionally since 2014.

Nick has covered baseball and hockey for outlets like The Athletic, Sportsnet, and Yahoo Sports, and his sports betting expertise has grown since its legalization in Ontario in 2022. 

Between 2022 and 2023 he worked for a betting startup called NorthStar Bets, and in 2024 he contributed to Oddspedia before joining the Responsible Gambler team.

Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Head of News Department

Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.

Anna Kravtcova
Anna Kravtcova
Problem Gambling Expert

Ph.D. in organizational psychology, an internationally certified psychologist (EuroPsy 2022, Cognitive behavioural therapy of mindfulness 2020, International Society for Emotional Intelligence 2017, Russian Psychological society 2014, American Psychological Association(Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist) 2011), speaker of many international conferences (USA, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, etc.). TEDx speaker.

Mark Medina
Mark Medina
NBA Reporter

Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria went to St. Petersburg State University and earned a bachelor of international journalism. Working as a sports journalist from 2014, from 2016 as a hockey journalist. Covered 5 World Championships, 2022 Winter Olympics, 2020 World Juniors, 6 Gagarin Cup Finals. 

Owner of a telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth.

Integrative nutritionist specializing on sports nutritionology.

Paul M. Banks
Paul M. Banks
Sports Reporter

Paul M. Banks is a professional Content Creator whose career has seen bylines in numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Yahoo, MSN, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Banks has made scores of guest appearances on live radio and television, featuring regularly on NTD News, WGN-TV, CCTV, ESPN Radio, the History Channel, SiriusXM and CBS Sports Radio.

He is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank.net, which has been featured and linked in hundreds of leading media outlets all across the world.

He has also authored two books, one of which, "No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in Sports Media," became an assigned textbook in journalism courses at State University New York-Oneonta.

Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Hockey Reporter

Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.

Show More