Muhammad Mokaev is out of this weekend’s showing against Adriano Moraes on the undercard of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano on Netflix, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still finding opportunities.
The 16-0 flyweight star was booted out of the UFC for undisclosed reasons in 2024 and has found four wins on the regional circuit. His appearance on Netflix, opposite former ONE champ Moraes, was intended to be a breakout moment for Mokaev, helping him gain momentum outside the UFC, but Visa issues forced his withdrawal.
Now, in a breaking announcement by Ilia Topuria’s The Way of Warrior FC (WOW FC) on X, Mokaev is set to fight Jorge Calvo in a bantamweight fight this June. ‘El Matador’ is a part-owner of the promotion, which prominently features Spanish MMA talent.
Muhammad Mokaev to fight in Ilia Topuria’s WOW FC
Mokaev vs. Calvo serves as the co-main event to the WOW lightweight championship fight between Brian Hooi and Umakhan Ibragimov. Their fight takes place in Madrid, Spain, on June 6 later this year.
Mokaev’s clean record smeared by grappling losses
Mokaev carried a squeaky clean 35-0 1NC record across amateur and professional MMA, up until a split decision grappling loss against former UFC fighter Rogerio Bontorin at ADXC 6 in 2024. He carried on with four more wins across MMA and karate before stepping in on short notice against No. 1 UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan at Hype FC Brazil in March 2026.
As a career flyweight, Mokaev was vastly outsized by Tsarukyan, the larger man who cuts weight to make lightweight. The contest ended in just under eight minutes with Tsarukyan finding a rear-naked choke. Seeing Mokaev lose in any capacity was alien to MMA fans, but he maintains a 16-0 MMA record.
‘The Punisher’ stayed pragmatic following the first finish loss of his lengthy career, taking to social media to address his fans.
“Zero excuses,” Mokaev wrote. “If I get another opportunity like this in my life, I will take it again and again. Competed against one of the best lightweights on two days’ notice, 45 lbs difference. Win or learn, go out there and challenge yourself, that’s the message to all youth.”
Mokaev was on the cusp of a UFC title shot before removal
Mokaev’s removal from the UFC was a huge disappointment when it happened. He’d just defeated Manel Kape in what could have been a flyweight title eliminator at UFC 304. Mokaev’s wins contained some huge names in Alex Perez, Charles Johnson, and Tim Elliott; it seemed all but certain that he’d challenge the throne sooner or later.
UFC CEO Dana White said the UFC matchmakers were not fans of Mokaev for different reasons, and that the PFL “is gonna get a great undefeated guy,” during the post-fight presser.
Speaking in November last year, Mokaev reflected on his departure from the promotion and how he’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to fight then-champion Alexandre Pantoja.
“If I say no [about wanting to come back,] I would lie,” Mokaev told Ariel Helwani. “I just want to be the best in the world. Right now, I believe I’m the best in the world. But by the results on the table, the only guy to prove that is Pantoja. That’s the only name I’m missing on my record.”
Still just 25 years old, Mokaev has plenty of time to earn his stripes and prove himself as one of the best fighters of this generation.
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