“Gassed in round 2” – Muhammad Mokaev’s call for flyweight title shot following ‘lackluster’ UFC Vegas 87 win sparks negative reactions from fight fans

Mohammad Mokaev has his eyes set on the flyweight gold after defeating Alex Perez at UFC Vegas 87.

“Gassed in round 2” – Muhammad Mokaev’s call for flyweight title shot following ‘lackluster’ UFC Vegas 87 win sparks negative reactions from fight fans

Mohammad Mokaev calls for the next title shot after beating Alex Perez at UFC Vegas 87 (via Imago)

UFC Vegas 87 showcased a lot of exciting fights and young potential talent. Muhammad Mokaev was one of the most promising talents on the fight card. He defeated Alex Perez by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 87. Mokaev dominated the fight against Perez by 29 to 28. He also landed three takedowns in the fight.

The undefeated fighter immediately called for a title shot against flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja has already beaten top challengers multiple times. And injuries are impacting other top flyweights. The win moves Mokaev to 6-0 in the UFC and 12-0 overall. He will likely receive a title shot as the division lacks clear contenders. This is what he said post-fight:

I'm 6-0 in the UFC, four finishes. [UFC] 301, 10 weeks, I'm ready to fight for the belt.
Muhammad Mokaev during the Post-fight interview
YouTube video

Mokaev pointed this out while explaining why he deserved the next crack at gold. The 24-year-old believed the timing and lack of alternatives support his case. Mokaev proposed matching up with the Brazilian champion on the UFC 301 card. 

FS Video

The Brit admitted he was sick and didn’t perform his best against Perez. He still did enough by neutralizing Perez after some early trouble. Mokaev stumbled briefly in round two after eating a nasty leg kick. But he was never in serious danger of losing. He controlled most exchanges with his ranged striking and wrestling. In the end, it was clear Mokaev had outpointed Alex Perez. The Russian-born fighter had one of the best comeback wins of last year.

Fight fans reacted to Muhammad Mokaev’s performance at UFC Vegas 87

Muhammad Mokaev’s call for a title shot following his win at UFC Vegas 87 was met with mixed reactions. While some supported giving the fast-rising Mokaev a championship opportunity, others felt he still needed another win first.

Fight fans reacted to Mohammad Mokaev's performance
Fight fans reacted to Mohammad Mokaev’s performance (via MMA Fighting)

Mokaev’s performance fell short of expectations. He gassed out after the second round. Mokaev explained this as a consequence of his sickness. Many fans argued Mokaev hadn’t done enough to warrant an immediate title shot. Based on his recent performance, some fight fans questioned if Mokaev was ready for champion Alexandre Pantoja. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:

https://twitter.com/wah_lo98695/status/1764093024219566359

The UFC will decide if Mokaev needs another win first or whether they roll the dice on his title fight appeal. The talented and charismatic Brit checks many boxes. He was always willing to take on any challenge put against him. But a flat performance when the stakes were high may give the promotion pause.

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