Undefeated flyweight MMA fighter Muhammad Mokaev has just claimed that UFC BJJ has actually been in touch with him in order to offer him a title-fight against their reigning bantamweight champion Mikey Musumeci. Although Mokaev competes at a lower weight class in MMA, he also cuts weight to get there and would likely walk around at a heavier weight than Musumeci. He generally competes at either 61kg or even 65kg when he does either wrestling or submission grappling matches, which falls in line with either bantamweight or featherweight, whereas Musumeci used to compete at 57kg or 64kg when weighing in with a gi on.
It’s certainly an interesting matchup given the stylistic differences between the two men, but it’s hard to imagine Mokaev actually submitting Musumeci. Mokaev is an incredible wrestler and he’s already used those skills to great success in MMA, where he currently holds a 16-0 (1) professional record that includes 7 wins in the UFC. He’s registered plenty of submission wins, but usually only after he’s able to wear opponents down with strikes and relentless takedowns. Musumeci on the other hand is a guard-player through and through, and he’s one of the best in the world. He would happily accept a takedown even if he can’t pull guard, and look to attack Mokaev’s legs and back any time he engages.
Mokaev could win a decision but he’d have to be able to engage with Musumeci’s guard without being submitted, and without penalised for stalling. Some of the best grapplers in the world haven’t been able to do that, so it’s unlikely Mokaev would be able to either. There’s also a fee stumbling blocks in place before the match can happen too; firstly that Mokaev was actually released by the UFC in 2024. If the promotion is willing to bring him back, even just in their grappling events, then they also need to hope that Musumeci makes it through his title-defense against Shay Montague at UFC BJJ 5.
Muhammad Mokaev shared the news that UFC BJJ had offered him a title-fight with Mikey Musumeci in a recent post to his official X account:
