Muhammad Mokaev, the rising talent in the UFC’s flyweight division, is on the hunt for his next opponent, eyeing both the UFC Manchester card in July and the promotion’s debut event in Saudi Arabia on June 22nd. Despite his impressive win against Alex Perez, Mokaev was overlooked for a title shot, prompting him to seek another fight. However, with no suitable opponent in sight, he has turned his attention to unranked prospect Joshua Van, who also finds himself without a fight after recent setbacks.
Van, originally slated to face Lucas Rocha and then Sumudaerji, had both opponents withdraw due to injury, leaving him eager for a matchup. Mokaev wasted no time in calling out Van for a showdown in Saudi Arabia, expressing his readiness for the challenge. In response, Van, cautious of Mokaev’s confidence, reached out to UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, signaling his willingness to accept the fight.
Despite both fighters expressing interest, it remains uncertain whether the UFC will greenlight the matchup, considering Mokaev’s position just outside the top 15 rankings. While the potential clash between Mokaev and Van gathers attention, the UFC’s inaugural event in Saudi Arabia is set to feature a high-stakes middleweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.
