Muhammad Mokaev Alleges UFC Uses Smear Campaigns Against Released Athletes

yahoo sports mma |  

Muhammad Mokaev has never lost a fight in the UFC, yet he has spent more than two years outside the promotion wondering why. The undefeated flyweight left the organization in 2024 with a 7-0 record, and he responded to the UFC’s recent decision not to re-sign Farid Basharat, an undefeated bantamweight who went 7-0 inside the Octagon.

According to Mokaev, UFC officials directly told fighters that their grappling-heavy approach would cost them their jobs. 

“When fighters are getting phone calls from bosses telling them, ‘If you keep wrestling like that, you’re going to get cut,’ then you’re basically telling fighters how you want them to fight,” Mokaev wrote on X. 

Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

Dana White’s Comments on Basharat

Basharat confirmed his departure after defeating John Garza in July 2026, stating he was never offered a new contract or another opponent. 

UFC CEO Dana White hinted that unspecified “reasons” beyond fighting style explained the split (h/t Championship Rounds on X). 

Mokaev, however, said he sees a deliberate strategy at play. 

“If you want to release a fighter, fine,” Mokaev wrote. “But don’t then publicly say he was ‘hard to deal with’ or create some bull— narrative about him that could damage his reputation and make other organizations think twice about signing him.”

Mokaev argues that UFC executives label departing athletes as difficult to work with precisely to poison their market value elsewhere. 

“Release fighters if you want. Just don’t try to damage their careers on the way out,” he wrote. 

Basharat’s brother Javid, who was also released, reinforced the claim, stating in an Instagram story that the family waited three months for contract talks that never came (h/t Kevin K on X).

“We found out when everyone else found out,” Javid wrote, rejecting any suggestion that Farid turned down fights or was hard to deal with. 

Mokaev’s Own Unfinished Business

Mokaev has stayed busy since his release, capturing the Brave CF flyweight title and an ACBJJ championship while compiling a 17-0 overall professional MMA record. 

He has publicly campaigned for a UFC return, reminding White of a challenge the executive once issued about becoming champion elsewhere. Yet the unresolved questions about his departure still sting. 

Mokaev previously told BBC Sport that the UFC texted his manager after an early win, saying “he needs to stop wrestling.” 

“I don’t know what else I need to do to show them,” he continued. “I was 21 when I was fighting these veterans, and now I’m much better and much stronger.”

“From [age] 21 to 23, I beat all these guys. Even Manel Kape, and he is ranked number two right now. I really don’t understand the politics. I really don’t know. I wish I knew the full story behind everything.”

With Basharat now facing the same treatment, Mokaev’s warning carries a pointed relevance. Even if the UFC may release fighters, the narrative damage that follows affects how fighters continue their careers outside the UFC.

More MMA News

This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.