Muhammad Mokaev has had an eventful week leading up to his UFC 304 bout against Manel Kape. As such, he came clean about his role in the hotel brawl with the rival Manel Kape, which occurred days before their highly anticipated fight in Manchester, England. The Brit was very clear about who and how the brawl started.
Mokaev’s admission adds a surprising twist to this tale. Speaking to reporters after his unanimous decision victory, Mokaev revealed that he had purposely instigated the hotel confrontation with Kape.
“I couldn’t come close to him in the hotel, so I told him let’s come take a picture. And once he came, I dropped him. I had to do it because I’m not somebody who — I’m not Alex Perez. I’m not other guys who, somebody can bully me. I come from a rough background. My life was tough and I give no shit to anyone to bully me,” stated Mokaev at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference.
It’s not every day a UFC fighter admits to sucker-punching their opponent before a fight. Mokaev explained that bad blood had been brewing between them for months. He claimed Kape had previously head-butted him before another fight, leaving him with a cut eyebrow.
Despite the pre-fight fireworks, cooler heads prevailed once they entered the octagon. Security kept the fighters separated until the bell rang. Mokaev’s victory may have settled the score, but it came at a cost. UFC CEO Dana White later announced that Mokaev’s contract wouldn’t be renewed, and he is no longer with the UFC.
Manel Kape And Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC PI Encounter
Rivalries often spark fireworks inside the octagon, and the rivalry between Kape and Mokaev started a long time ago. They have taken their beef beyond the cage, making their UFC 304 fight a lot more personal.
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A UFC lightweight and Kape’s training partner, Jean Silva, spilled the beans on the same. He revealed a shocking incident involving the two flyweight contenders. According to Silva, Kape, and Mokaev, there was a violent altercation outside the UFC Performance Institute. The encounter left Mokaev with a split-open head just days before a fight, presumably against Alex Perez.
Apparently, after some online trash talk, Kape confronted Mokaev at the PI entrance. When Mokaev tried to apologize, Kape wasn’t having it. What followed was a headbutt and elbow that sent Mokaev to the ground and cut his head open. This incident added a whole new layer to the hotel brawl before their fight at UFC 304. Who started the beef initially will probably remain a mystery.
Also Read: VIDEO: Paddy Pimblett Chokes King Green Out Cold In The First Round At UFC 304
