From Dagestan to Wigan - Muhammad Mokaev shares his story to the U.K. and the UFC! 👏

Ahead of his UFC debut, Muhammad Mokaev speaks to Adam Catterall about making his journey from Dagestan to Wigan and then climbing the ranks in MMA to the UFC!
Watch #UFCLondon on Saturday on BT Sport 1 HD.

[@ridwan7098]

The Russian accent with the Wigan accent combined is something else🤣

[@captainkirk1]

No wigin accent their mate, I'm frum wigin me i et pies.

[@Maartun]

It’s like a Chechen accent mixed with a Scouse accent

[@Brandon-pp5mk]

degastan x wigan combined no ones safe

[@Adam-uz9sc]

I thought he was from Manchester

[@kahlebhowarth-jennings9688]

@@captainkirk1 there’s a few words that definitely sound proper northern English, definitely not yorkshire but also not geordie or scouse, not quite farmer enough to be Wigan but too farmer to be Manchester

[@alexb292]

Being from Salford, I’m so proud of seeing him on the biggest stage under the brightest lights of all. He’s enriched the mma scene and raised the bar in the north west of England, Muhammad is a true phenom of the amateur scene and we all know he will smash it in the ufc. Lets go Muhammad 💪👍

[@sm-ry7lj]

🤝🏼💪🏽

[@ShayanKhanbazzinga]

@Modiloves Luli ur dad roames there at night for some candy

[@warnerbuller-lecriut4750]

people dont realise how big this is for manchester uno brother, im gassed for him

[@faz8055]

Well said mate!!

[@JayCee-tp2gv]

"enriched" lol

[@thomaslunde5014]

The fact that Dagestan keeps pumping out these great fighting talents in serious numbers when they only have a population of about 3 million people is crazy!

[@AzeemMMA]

The fact that he’s only 21 to me is insane. Massive inspiration for young athletes as he’s only a few years older than them 🔥🇬🇧

[@youtubebram4393]

And a good role model for our younger generation, let's hope they start having more respect like and behaving like him.

[@MrDentSir]

The is the true definition of spirit....A refugee who respects the opportunity and is now a UK legend.........

[@dannybarry9645]

Lol a UK legend. He's from Dagestan🙄. He has also only beat a few cans 🤣

[@wrestlingjudoms1302]

No the English don't get to claim this one.

[@fadlisuryanto8617]

@@dannybarry9645 but mohamad mokaev in interview choose england rather than russia.. i dont know why

[@illtownjackboy6056]

@@fadlisuryanto8617 it’s fan base uk population is like 70 million Dagestan population 3 million so it makes more sense to rep uk for ppvs and be the only champion from the uk while Dagestan will have many champions

[@FinnMMA]

@@dannybarry9645dude is raising and repping the England flag proudly so yes English. He literally said "my goal is to become English UFC champion". Unlike Khamzat he knows that the UK gave him everything and a good life I like that

[@bri_____]

The depth of talent in that part of the world is preposterous.

[@Sam-ng3of]

Only trained karate for a bit in Dagestan when he was younger than 12. All of his MMA training was done in England including wrestling.

[@MarkWalmsley]

@@Sam-ng3of it's just something that they are born with. Refugees have a different mentality. Now is he as good as a dagestani who lived and trained there their whole life.....I can't say but I imagine he isn't. However flyweight isn't full of savage dagestani wrestlers who we will see. I haven't heard of him until today so it will be interesting to find out.

[@Sam-ng3of]

@@MarkWalmsley not sure how certain we can be that being good at martial arts is something they are born with lol. He got there through hard work training in Manchester, Liverpool etc. But the values from his dad sure helped. Have been following him since he turned pro.

[@Nassirtheory]

@@Sam-ng3of lol he’s Dagestani first

[@istheway-gu6yo]

@@Sam-ng3of nobody cares dude, nobody cares

[@Gh0st_0723]

Oh man its heartwarming to see non Muslims supporting this guy, Instead of letting racism effect their views. Thanks guys, it actually means a lot. We're all 1.

[@johnholmes2745]

This guy has a great attitude. Resilient, young and talented, he’ll go far

[@khairt1731]

He's got that pure good energy like Khabib

[@khaanaboltahai6386]

He talks like Khabib , he sounds like him too attitude wise too.... God bless u young man

[@michellemullins6741]

This guy is 21 years old. Wow. So well spoken for a language he is still learning. So confident. Love his story and love him.

[@jwjwjhsjsj5098]

This 21 year old is so inspiring!

[@niyazahmed3448]

Im hearing hints of the northern England accent mixed in with his dagestani accent, its tripping me out but i love it lol🤣

[@New_Rogue]

This man is an inspiration. My prayers go to Muhammad Mokaev for him to have nothing but success on his journey. Never give up my man. love from Micronesia 🇫🇲

[@patrickseary]

He used to live at the end of my street, once his dad was arguing with some gripper and Mohammed slammed this guy twice his size hahaha beast

[@mohamedabugrain2178]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@atronadhashi4550]

is that real?

[@patrickseary]

@@atronadhashi4550 is what I said real? Yeah

[@atronadhashi4550]

@@patrickseary wow

[@dannybarry9645]

Cool story bro😐

[@---nv4fz]

This guy is the definition of hard work mashallah seen him since 2016 killing it in the amateur mma

[@JohnnyEtiquette]

Without a doubt the future UFC Flyweight Champion

[@mattearl1270]

He hasn’t even fought yet, he’s a promising prospect but don’t get too ahead of yourself lol

[@tejasbhat4477]

@@mattearl1270 he's 23-0 in amateur 6-0 in pro I believe It's hard not to get hyped But yes He's not fought yer

[@brianpotter149]

@@mattearl1270 and now holder of the 2nd fastest FW submission in UFC history on his debut aswell.......58 seconds.

[@Notpoop906]

X to doubt

[@dannywigan20]

Great to see him finally get to the UFC, people have said it's only a matter of time for years round Wigan, Tom and now Muhammed, Wigan are doing the U.k proud in the mma world.

[@Izzy-zh8ck]

A Dagestani brit! I'm sold ! Take my money

[@hunterwolf6898]

A few lads from my town Wigan fighting tonight for the UFC. Crazy!

[@elyt777]

If Mokaev enters 125 rankings, there will be 3 Dagestanis in FlW division. Mokaev, Tagir, and the title contender Askarov. Almost each UFC division got its Dagestani contenders, Zabit, Islam, Imavov, Ankalaev, and some promising prospects, like Mokaev and Umar. Shouldn't even mention Khabib, as he is retired. There are Dagestani contenders and champs in Bellator, PFL, and ONE. A reminder that Dagestan's population is just 3 mln...

[@atronadhashi4550]

This is unreal!!

[@preston8859]

Isn’t wrestling like their national sport? Lol in most big countries like the US, other sports dominate, so the best athletes aren’t all wrestling and training for mma. In the US wrestling season is during basketball, and basketball is so much more popular, most of the best athletes would rather do that.

[@seetsamolapo5600]

@@preston8859 in spite of that, there's sth special about their wrestling. These guys are just different

[@Sam-ng3of]

All of mokaevs training was done in Britain

[@elyt777]

@@Sam-ng3of Sure, why then we don't see many Indian, Pakistani, or Arab fighters from the UK, they outnumber Dagestanis in UK by x10000. And Imavov fights from France, Khamzat is a Chechen, Dagestan's neighbor, basically the same culture, fights from Sweden. Etc

[@Zunn1996]

His Russian accent with Wigan twang is so funny to me 😂

[@almurabitun]

He is Dagestani not Russian

[@dbgaming87]

@@almurabitun Dagastan is in Russia 🤦‍♂️

[@captainkirk1]

I don't hear it

[@almurabitun]

@@dbgaming87 He is ethnic Avar Dagestani. Yes, it is currently occupied by Russia but he is not an ethnic Slav Russian. Plus, the Dagestani accent is different to Russian.

[@dbgaming87]

@@almurabitun Dagestan, officially the Republic of Dagestan is a republic of Russia situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe, along the Caspian Sea. It is located north of the Greater Caucasus, and is a part of the North Caucasian

[@onlystuntin1905]

Let´s go Muhammad! Massive respect and support being sent your way.

[@-MrGold-]

been following mo for a few years now its so sick to see him where he deserves to be! future champion 100%

[@Sam-ng3of]

@Beyonce's Middle Finger wrestling + very good kicks

[@Medellin4497]

@Beyonce's Middle Finger Beast style! He is not like fake hyped fighters Paddy Pimblett and stuff like that. He is real.

[@niyazahmed3448]

@Beyonce's Middle Finger incredible wrestling, i mean he has dagestani blood and im not surprised and very good strriking, i think his wrestling is a tad better tho

[@Vector946]

At times when he is speaking he sounds like a proper Englishman😂

[@Sam-ng3of]

Because he is, he's a Wiganner

[@JayCee-tp2gv]

@@Sam-ng3of clown

[@W..949]

@@Sam-ng3of I mean he still has an accent from dagestan…

[@BarisTitanX]

Listening to him is a lot of fun, he's got that Dagestani accent mixed with a Northern English one..

[@aromafromheaven]

Mokaev is just wonderful

[@aidan7413]

Very excited for his debut. Been waiting for him to be signed

[@carlt9265]

Very talented like tom aspinall 2 wigan lads on the map

[@ashley5420]

This lad has gained a fan,first interview I've seen of him aswell

[@Halbumen]

he's still a baby and already an absolute BEAST. Bring on Saturday!

[@nornas6071]

I am from the Netherlands end I follow this fighter very long time ago

[@josevanreyes]

Ok

[@shark4sk]

Hey...I am also in Netherlands and have been following him for sometime......

[@TheBiKinger]

He finished it in 58 sec 🔥🔥

[@wolf5393]

Muhammad Mokaev the fighter with one of the toughest mentality.

[@chrishealey5098]

Great interview. This london card is massive for all the uk fighters to make a name for themselves.

[@thecaribbeanhashira]

Awesome, can`t wait to see his UFC debut.

[@Sam-ng3of]

He has always repped UK/Manchester/Wigan/Salford from his early days. He won't change now that people jump on his well deserved hype train.

[@jzilla1234]

Shout out to Wigan youth zone for finding this warrior

[@N1CH0LAS007]

Let’s goooo Mokaev so f’n excited for UFC London this weekend no doubt it’s the best lineup we’ve ever seen imo ✌️

[@fredfoley4227]

Crazy hearing that Dagestani accent mixed with the north of England!

[@ethanb27]

The fact hes a dagastani born. However only started learning to wrestle in wigan england… its a year on and this man is one of the best grapplers in his devision and he learnt how to in wigan.. thats amazing

[@kamalakelly6208]

Hes very good what he does and champion for reason he will become even more in UFC in sha Allah

[@maggielogie4556]

Not heard of this guy but i like him he has that fire in his soul. Also he wants to rep britian well do us proud brother!! 2nd round TKO!!

[@XoXo475]

He’s absolutely gorgeous.

[@crookyie9556]

Was a pleasure to go the same school as him in Wigan

[@ajplfc1276]

Living the British dream well done lad not often a scouser will praise a manc

[@brothermohdhanif375]

21 is great journey to begin

[@meatballsportstalk6297]

He killed it today with that flying knee

[@mrorangecookie1430]

lets go cant wait for saturday

[@LaazrGaming]

THE FUTURE! MY BROTHER

[@GG-bx1nv]

wait your a fan of mohammad mokaev

[@specialone6032]

Respect ✊🏻

[@jamieanderson3475]

Remember him from UKFC cards , great fighter

[@derdude7725]

ingush people support u brother 💪🏻🤝🏻

[@thenazgul844]

this guy current win streak is 29 , I can't wait to see him fighting

[@wolf5393]

The men is here. Champ material.

[@lukeashton8107]

Always repped my town Ashton Manchester top team ❤️my local MMA gym I wanna take up wrestling cause of this guy just need the confidence to go there

[@2011Emptyheads]

This guy will be champ

[@shikharsingh2971]

Youngest Champ ( 2023 ) - Mohammad Mokaev 🔥

[@zakaria8085]

Ufc will not give him a chance to it

[@sn-mc9ym]

LETS GO MO !

[@monch3131]

Inshaaalah his be a ufc champion

[@joshbrant8581]

This man is a beast

[@adampowell5481]

Very likable chap

[@millysworld6150]

I wouldn't bet against this lad becoming the youngest champ...or a future legend for that matter.

[@deathstroke334]

Can't be youngest champ if figgy and moreno are doing the 18th straight rematch

[@zakaria8085]

I wish he win and i wish they give him top 15

[@SyedReacxts]

This brother is good 👍 new star IA

[@thesatisfiedcustomer4869]

If he can avoid serious injuries he will deffo be a world champion

[@benjaminrichard7741]

How am I just now hearing about this thunderous prospect?! 😨

[@rickoblackpool1938]

Let's go smashed it.... 🚀🚀🚀

[@prioragranta69]

🔥🔥🔥 Мухаммад полный газ братишка

[@IFAMILYIH]

Ay Mashallah

[@orionpacks]

the future champ

[@AXharoth]

i love Adam!

[@NaserAlzaben7]

Best of luck champ

[@semlapa9864]

Khabib teammate Tagir is also in 125 lb, his vs. Tagir would be a great fight (btw Tagir is coached by best mma coach AKA coach Jav and coach Khabib)

[@wesleylamb7782]

He would smash him

[@jimbob7534]

They wont fight they from Dagestan

[@wesleylamb7782]

@@jimbob7534 so why not he had been in England long enough.

[@semlapa9864]

@@jimbob7534 once the belt is on the line, they will fight, cant wait to hear coach Khabib yelling control your hip

[@zakaria8085]

Tagir is weak

[@rwaditama]

Let's goo Magomed Mokaev

[@luvcalv]

Future champ

[@bricktop.]

Rah, man come from Dagestan to WIGAN? He's in the trenches for real.

[@TheWorldsGoneMad2022]

Up the tics 👌good luck mate 👍

[@leedscity6881]

Good luck pal

[@STMMAUFC]

💯

[@umom9353]

Future champ for UK and for the dangstan and Muslim looking for his rise too top 💪🇬🇧

[@Asiyah2000]

@@Bot-rp7rj salty hater go get life 😏

[@Adam-uz9sc]

@@Bot-rp7rj he's reps England so how is it dangistan

[@umom9353]

@@Bot-rp7rj OK my dood Don't be salty I included all three and he carry the UK flag as well as dangstan u Mellon

[@wolf5393]

The most interesting ufc debut - since khamzat chimaev.

[@zakaria8085]

Khamzat debut wasn't interesting like this one, after he took the short notice fight he became famous

[@arslanjani1105]

@@zakaria8085 true

[@FinnMMA]

Alex Perreira by FAR in years lol

[@davidp5544]

4:08 if he can learn English up there the boy can do anything 😂

[@jeremiahfreitag5242]

Was he involved in Eagles mma at any point

[@user-wv1px4ht9w]

👍👍👍🤝

[@sajidrahman6160]

Dagestani??!?..that's our khabib !!

[@AliMoradiTehrani]

By 2024 all UFC champs will be Muslims. InshaAllah

[@TheAlp.]

Met him in March of 2018 he was fighting at a UKFC event in Preston the same day as my friend and we got told this guy is a prodigy and the future at just 18years old and we believed it then we saw him smash his opponent snd knew he is going for the ufc

[@Maartun]

0:01 gotta love the stone island jumper

[@munirkhan6091]

The British Khabib we got a superstar in the UK Tyson fury and Muhammad mokeav remember .........

[@Sam-ng3of]

He said he doesn't want to be Khabib 2.0

[@umarandria4067]

"My comfort zone is in the cage" 🤣😂

[@hamzatabibi9743]

youve seen muhammed mokaev, now just wait for his fellow gym partner, ibragim ibragimov.

[@hasanabbasi9000]

from Dagestan to Wigan = raggo blood

[@paulwilson7557]

Up the tics!

[@waughy9103]

Wigan? I'd have stayed in dagestan...

[@halimmimo2555]

Khabib and his team probably painted a whole different pic of dagestan it take so many obstacles/problems to train there compared to in the UK even Khabib when he signed with the UFC he changed his camp the US

[@trtvitor1385]

@@halimmimo2555 If you’d been to Wigan you’d understand

[@millysworld6150]

Hehe...it is a place that breeds toughness though. Pretty useful for a fighter or a rugby player. Three lads from Wigan area on Saturday's card.

[@waughy9103]

@@millysworld6150 It's a place that INBREEDS toughness. Especially league players 🏉

[@historian3290]

😂 😂 😂

[@orkhanahmadov9963]

is English hard to learn in North West of London he said?

[@raynor4797]

No North West England because he moved to Wigan

[@final58fant58]

Why is every fighter who comes from Dagestan last name always finish with a v?

[@dederetre]

before we were annexed by Russia we had lastnames without V at the end. Then the russification had happened - Russians added OV and EV (depends on is previous vowel or consonant) at the end of our LN.

[@istheway-gu6yo]

ov and ev means "son of"

[@wolf5393]

Inshallah -------....

[@tjo6252]

Why most top guys who represent britain aren't british.

[@GG-bx1nv]

because actual brits arnt tough?

[@murrayde630]

That's true, Tyson Fury is Irish, Bisping is Polish/Irish, Leon Edwards is Jamaican, Lennox Lewis is Caribbean/Canadian.

[@brandonlee4858]

They're British, British is a nationality

[@burchyscfc5988]

@@GG-bx1nv actual brits aren’t tough? Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Nathaniel Wood, Paul Craig, Paddy Pimblett all on this card and all ethnically British and the amount of british boxing world champions we’ve had is endless…🖕🏻

[@burchyscfc5988]

@@murrayde630 Nah your just ignorant, UK has had alot of immigrants over time so yes eventually someone from another ethnic background was going to make it to the top to represent us?

[@sgx8126]

I heard he is undefeated with 31-0 win steak. Is that real?