Muhammad Mokaev explains why he surprisingly compares his UFC career to Colby Covington’s

Muhammad Mokaev references how Colby Covington changed the UFC’s perception

On November 7, Muhammad Mokaev is set to challenge for the inaugural BRAVE flyweight title at the promotion’s landmark 100th event.

When speaking to Bloody Elbow ahead of the fight, some comparisons were made between his UFC career and the run of Merab Dvalishvili.

Dana White has admitted to coming around to the bantamweight champion following his remarkable title run, after they initially butted heads for several reasons.

Along with Dvalishvili, Mokaev believes that Colby Covington is another fighter who he has some similarities with.

Covington saved his UFC career on this day in 2017 when he changed the promotion’s perception of him by becoming a controversial figure and generating a lot more value than he had in the past.

Mokaev, who will take on Ireland’s Gerard Burns next month, wants to do a similar thing by continuing to prove that he’s an elite fighter.

“I think Colby Covington had a similar situation that I had. I believe it’s a similar situation, and Merab’s. Anyone’s opinion you can change by changing yourself and results. You cannot focus on the negative side, you just have to go out there and perform better.

“Like Dana said, he can go out and become champion somewhere else. I will become champion somewhere else and now it’s a matter of how I become champion. How I’m going to finish Gerard Burns, that’s the most important thing.”

Muhammad Mokaev is only focused on being the best fighter possible

Muhammad Mokaev believes that whether he gets a second shot in the UFC will be entirely determined by the manner of his performances.

If ‘The Punisher’ is able to make a statement in a title fight, this could take him one step closer to the Octagon, but he’s not focused on that.

Mokaev is doing what got him to the UFC in the first place, taking on each challenge as they come, though he’s clearly motivated to impress when he makes the walk.

“All depends on the performance and right now, I cannot look past Gerard Burns because it doesn’t matter what calibre of fighter he is, we have to stay focused,” Mokaev told Bloody Elbow. “That’s what got me where I am today. I stay focused and look at the opponent that’s in front of me. We’ll see. Right now, I’m with BRAVE, I’m feeling comfortable here.”