![Muhammad Mokaev (pictured) will face opponent on two-days notice in return to Brave CF [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/842cd-17339261896551-1920.jpg)
![Muhammad Mokaev (pictured) will face opponent on two-days notice in return to Brave CF [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Muhammad Mokaev appears to have avoided disaster after being able to secure a new opponent with just days until his fight at Brave CF 91. His clash is set for Dec. 13 and will be his first fight back in the promotion since his departure to join the UFC in 2021.
'The Punisher' was signed by the MMA leader three years ago and continued to rack up wins on MMA's biggest stage until he was surprisingly not re-signed by the promotion after completing his contract in July.
After a brief period without a fighting home, Mokaev returned to Brave CF and was scheduled to take on South African flyweight Luthando Biko, who withdrew from the bout due to health issues this week.
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According to MMA reporter Guilherme Cruz, the undefeated fighter will now face Joevincent So, who will be making his promotional debut.
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Mokaev was regarded as one of the UFC's best talents at 125 pounds before his exit from the promotion. Despite the UFC brass' apparent frustrations in working with 'The Punisher', he has not given up hope of returning to the biggest stage in MMA.
What did Dana White say regarding Muhammad Mokaev's UFC exit?
Muhammad Mokaev defeated Manel Kape via decision at UFC 304 on July 27, extending his MMA record to 13-0-1 (1 no contest). However, during the post-event press conference, Dana White confirmed that the promotion would not be re-signing the flyweight contender.
The news left fans and pundits surprised, but White alluded to difficulties in working with 'The Punisher' as the main reason for their decision. Mokaev himself admitted that some behind-the-scenes issues contributed to him not receiving a new contract.
During a press conference several days after UFC 304, White shared further comments about the situation regarding the 24-year-old, saying:
"It is what it is... This is an opportunity, to be here and to perform in front of the entire world. He's just a guy that did everything wrong and p*ssed these guys off. I wasn't involved with any of the stuff that happened with him, but the matchmakers and Hunter [Campbell] were, and they weren't happy with him. They weren't happy with the way he acted."
Catch Dana White's comments about Muhammad Mokaev below (12:25):
