A perfect 7-0 record in the UFC wouldn’t keep Mokaev on the roster, even after beating Manel Kape at UFC 304 earlier this year, the UFC decided not to re-sign the 24-year-old years despite a very good start. in promotion.

Mokaev’s release came as a surprise to many, but to some he had expected it with his last two somewhat lackluster decision victories and behind-the-scenes antics, among them a fight with Kape before their fight in July.

Mokaev (13-0) picked up his first post-UFC victory at BRAVE CF 91, submitting his opponent in two minutes, keeping dreams of a UFC return alive for “The Punisher.”

However, title hopeful Kai Kara-France (25-11) doesn’t believe the UFC will re-sign Mokaev because of his fighting style.

“He’s boring,” Kara-France said of Mokaev on The Ariel Helwani show. “Like, it’s fighting. It’s not wrestling. It’s not hugging. Don’t pull someone’s pants down in the middle of a fight. It’s just desperate and it’s is just plain ugly. It’s the fighting game.

“If we were trying to fight and do the bare minimum to fight or win a fight, that’s what I would train for. That’s all I would do, fight. But no one wants to see that. No we pay all this money to see someone bang someone on the floor and that’s it. There’s not a lot of talent in there. So, I’m not surprised. ‘UFC, they end up being discovered.’

Well, Mokaev has yet to be “discovered” in the UFC and MMA, leaving the Octagon with seven straight wins, including four against currently ranked contenders Manel Kape, Alex Perez, Tim Elliott and Charles Johnson.

Despite not being the most exciting fighter in 2024, Mokaev boasted that he had a higher success rate in the UFC than Kara-France, the No. 4 flyweight contender.

“More finishes than you in the UFC, brother,” Mokaev responded to Kara-France on X. “I’ve only been in the UFC for 2 years, had 7 fights and 4 finishes with 2 serious injuries. You’ve been in the UFC for 8 years. Now do the math. Kape owns you by the way. “

Mokaev entered the UFC in 2022, leaving the promotion with a 57% finishing rate with four finishes. In contrast, “Don’t Blink” Kara-France has a 38% finishing rate in the UFC, with three finishes since her UFC debut in 2018.

The New Zealand knockout artist has more finishes on his professional record overall, but Kara-France has been fighting as a pro for 14 years now. Mokaev’s professional career began in 2020, already beating Kara-France in terms of submission victories.

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