UNDEFEATED Brit Muhammad Mokaev will once again be in action on the UFC’s latest trip to London.
The most-talked about amateur in MMA history will return to the cage on July 23 against fellow UFC rookie Charles Johnson.
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Mokaev, 21, made his long-awaited octagon bow in the promotion’s last card in the English capital in March – locking horns with the experienced Cody Durden.
But The Punisher made light work of the American, submitting him in a mere 58 seconds to blow the roof off the O2 Arena.
Mokaev will, however, face sterner competition in former LFA flyweight champ Johnson – who boasts an 11-2 record.
A five-fight win streak, in which he’s registered three stoppages, punched Johnson’s ticket to the UFC.
Mokaev’s journey to the octagon began in Dagestan, Russia, where he left aged 12 with his dad to seek refuge in the UK.
And a mere nine years after arriving in the UK and being unable to speak a word of English, he’s making waves in mixed martial arts’ premier promotion.
He told SunSport: “I want my story to inspire people, especially coming from the refugee background.
“I’ve been around these people for a long time, I’ve been a refugee for ten years now.
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“That’s why I was so happy about getting my British passport, I couldn’t travel normally.
“People talk about refugees and say, ‘They come to this country and they don’t have families and they’re happy with what the Government gives them.’
“But to come to the country, you have to put yourself on the map so as not to be put in the same circle as all refugees.
“You have to stand out and believe in your skills. It doesn’t matter if you know English or not, you can build something here.
“If you could do it in your own country, you can do it here too. That’s what I want to prove and make motivation for those people.”
Mokaev doesn’t plan on wasting any time and has set his sights on breaking a record held by Hall-of-Famer Jon Jones.
He said: “My goal is to become the youngest champion in UFC history. And I believe I can do that next year.”
