UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev was released by UFC CEO Dana White in the wake of his “irritating” Manel Kape victory at UFC 304 last weekend in Manchester. White’s comments about Mokaev finding a new home in PFL led to rumors of a potential negotiating tactic from “The Punisher” that may have backfired at the bargaining table.
Or maybe it was just another round of fake news from media morons.
“My dream is to become UFC champion,” Mokaev wrote on Twitter. “I turn them all down because UFC gave me the platform to put my name out there and earn money to feed my family! By the way, PFL doesn’t have a flyweight division. All these journalists that make this sh*t up are idiots! I hope Dana re-signs me, this is my dream to become champion!”
Mokaev’s release likely has something to do with his UFC 304 sneak attack on longtime rival Manel Kape, which “Starboy” claimed was a premeditated assault. “The Punisher” later admitted the ambush was designed to send Kape a stern message about bullies.
Because bullies only understand one language: violence!
“This is first time I punched outside the cage, it was more personal,” Mokaev continued. “He was the one who headbutted five days before my (Alex) Perez fight when I went to shake his hand in Vegas! I understand, this is wrong what happened at the hotel and I apologize to the UFC, but there’s some nights I didn’t sleep because someone treated me like that, I never been cheap shot on the streets. I will never let anyone bully me and I never bullied anyone, but whatever happened, it happened, I don’t wanna keep going on about it but I will take big lesson from it!”
Kape is accused of attacking Mokaev at the Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
White is unlikely to budge on his Mokaev release but “The Punisher,” still just 24 years old, has plenty of time to establish a name for himself on the regional and international circuits, where an impressive win streak could lead to another crack at UFC stardom.
If not, look for Mokaev to earn a spot in the “Semtex” hall of shame.