Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling claims that the UFC made a big mistake by releasing Muhammad Mokaev.
Mokaev kept his unbeaten record intact by defeating Manel Kape in the final fight of his contract at UFC 304, moving closer to a flyweight title shot. However, the UFC chose not to re-sign him, with Dana White even suggesting he join the PFL, despite the fact that they don’t have a flyweight division.
Now a free agent, Mokaev’s future in MMA is uncertain. Dana pointed to Mokaev’s difficult attitude as the reason for not renewing his contract.
Sterling, who has had his own disagreements with the UFC, believes Mokaev’s release was unfair, especially given the controversies surrounding UFC 304.
In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Sterling voiced his disappointment with the way the UFC handled Mokaev.
“If you ask me, I think it’s f***ed up,” Sterling said. “I don’t think there was any real reason to cut him. You can say the piggybacking of the fight at the P.I., but that takes two to tango… I know Mokaev was the first one to talk shit. Manel told him, ‘When you see me, keep that same energy.’ He saw him, tried to apologize, but Manel told him to keep that same energy, they had a fight or whatever happened, the scuffle.
“Fast forward, they had a fight again … and then we saw what happened at the hotel, which is kind of odd to put your arm around someone to take a picture and then sucker-punch them. I think that’s a little bit too low for me. I think that one was very, very dirty. Then they fought the way that they fought, which was unfortunate because the whole toe thing with Manel in that fight. Then you’ve got one guy who is undefeated, gets cut, it’s weird.”
Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling?
