Amidst a flurry of injuries and setbacks affecting several top contenders, Muhammad Mokaev (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) sees a clear path to championship contention if he emerges victorious this Saturday at UFC Fight Night 238.
Matched against seasoned veteran Alex Perez (24-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on the main card at the UFC Apex, Mokaev has already mapped out his next steps, eyeing a showdown with Alexander Pantoja.
“Brandon Royval, I believe he’s dealing with a torn ACL,” Mokaev commented during Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 238 media day. “Brandon Moreno holds a 0-3 record against Pantoja. Royval himself is 0-2 against Pantoja. Manel Kape might need another fight since he failed to make weight last time. Amir Albazi is sidelined with an injury. Kai Kara-France is recovering from a concussion. When I inquired about fighting him, Mick Maynard informed me about his condition.”
“Now, I stand as the lone challenger, but I need to defeat Alex Perez convincingly,” Mokaev added.
Many anticipated Brandon Moreno securing the next shot at Pantoja, but his recent loss to Royval, who in turn lost to Pantoja, has shifted expectations. Though not yet confirmed, there’s widespread speculation about the UFC’s intent to feature Pantoja at UFC 301 on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pantoja’s hometown.
Mokaev is keenly aware of this event and the potential appeal of Pantoja defending his title there. Despite the seemingly tight timeline, he’s more than willing to vie for the gold on that date.
“That gives me 10 weeks from March 2, I’ve already calculated,” Mokaev affirmed. “I’m prepared. As I’ve mentioned, I have significant experience from my amateur career, so I’m capable of fighting every weekend.”
