Mokaev’s UFC 304 Win Came With an Unexpected Contract Ending
Muhammad Mokaev defeated Manel Kape by unanimous decision at UFC 304 in Manchester on July 27, 2024. The flyweight victory extended his unbeaten UFC run, but Dana White said afterward that the promotion would not offer him another contract.
A quiet fight after a heated buildup
Mokaev and Kape had been involved in confrontations before the contest and needed to be separated ahead of the opening bell. Once the fight began, the action was considerably more restrained than the buildup suggested.
Kape landed a notable shot late in the first round. Mokaev was more effective during the second, although a shorts grab cost him a takedown and top position. The third included work from Mokaev and elbows from Kape before a clinch at the horn.
The judges favored Mokaev
Two judges scored the fight 29–28 for Mokaev, with the third returning 30–27. The unanimous verdict gave him a seventh UFC victory without defeat inside the promotion.
Mokaev said his contract had expired and expressed interest in reaching a new agreement. His victory therefore arrived alongside uncertainty about his immediate promotional future.
White announced the decision
At the post-event press conference, White confirmed that the UFC did not intend to re-sign him. He referred to several issues behind the scenes and said the decision involved more than Mokaev’s grappling style.
The announcement ended that UFC stint despite the winning result. It concerned his contract and place in the promotion, rather than an announcement that he was retiring from MMA.
Sources
- UFC: bout sequence, scorecards and seventh promotional victory
- MMA Fighting: Mokaev’s contract comments and White’s response
