Muhammad Mokaev expects a call from Dana White if he submits UFC star Arman Tsarukyan

The former flyweight contender has the chance to impress against one of the UFC’s top fighters.

Muhammad Mokaev is set to grapple Arman Tsarukyan on Wednesday night in Rio de Janeiro, where the pair will headline the Hype Brazil event in a submission-only match.

A number of notable names are set to compete on the card, which also includes a rematch between Bryce Mitchell and Jean Silva.

But most of the attention is on Tsarukyan’s latest grappling exploit, as Mokaev looks to end the Armenian’s undefeated run outside of the Octagon. And by doing so, ‘The Punisher’ thinks he could catch his ex-employer’s eye.

Muhammad Mokaev plans to impress the UFC by beating Arman Tsarukyan

Mokaev has stepped in on short notice to battle Tsarukyan, who has not lost in five submission grappling matches and two Real American Freestyle outings across last year and 2026 to date.

The top UFC lightweight contender is staying busy away from the Octagon, having kept himself in the promotion’s doghouse with antics such as his headbutt at the ceremonial weigh-ins in Qatar last November.

His upcoming opponent knows a thing or two about that. Mokaev was let go by the UFC after the final fight of his contract, with Dana White citing factors away from the cage as the reason behind the promotion’s decision not to re-sign the undefeated flyweight.

The Dagestan-born Brit has been trying to work his way back to MMA’s biggest stage ever since, and he joked that a submission over Tsarukyan on Wednesday should get ‘uncle Dana’ picking up the phone.

“I think I need to do MMA to get back to the UFC. But if I submit Arman, give me the title shot straight away,” Mokaev said at Tuesday’s Hype Brazil press conference.

“I think uncle (Dana White) is gonna call me straight away.”