Muhammad Mokaev has shared his perspective on being frequently compared by fans to boxing great Vasiliy Lomachenko, particularly regarding their respective amateur careers.
Mokaev is set to return to action on June 14 in Dubai, UAE, facing Alisher Gabdullin at 971FC. A victory in this upcoming bout could potentially open the door for his return to the UFC roster and a coveted fight against flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
Thus far in his career, the British fighter has displayed remarkable talent, which he attributes significantly to his extensive amateur background. This amateur record is widely considered among the most impressive, perhaps even the best, in the history of mixed martial arts.
Considering his outstanding amateur credentials, it`s quite natural that parallels are drawn between Mokaev and the renowned boxer, `Hi-Tech`.
Muhammad Mokaev Offers His View on Comparisons with Vasiliy Lomachenko
Vasiliy Lomachenko built a legendary amateur boxing career, mesmerizing onlookers worldwide with his sublime footwork and exceptional boxing intelligence, culminating in an incredible official record of 396 wins and just 1 loss.
While his amateur tenure was not as lengthy as Lomachenko`s, Muhammad Mokaev definitively proved his capabilities, amassing a 23-0 record and clinching the prestigious IMMAF World championships on two separate occasions.
Both highly accomplished fighters have successfully transitioned and made significant impacts in their professional arenas. Lomachenko has conquered three different weight divisions, while Mokaev remains undefeated across his first 15 professional bouts, with his prime years seemingly still ahead of him.
Nevertheless, when questioned about how his amateur career measures up against Lomachenko`s, the mixed martial artist responded humbly. He explained that for him, that early part of his journey was focused more on refining his technique and gaining experience rather than simply accumulating victories.
In an exclusive interview, Mokaev commented: “I think he’s 10x more experienced than me as an amateur.”
“In amateur MMA, people take it as professional. I only did as many fights as possible in the amateurs to lose. I tried to find somebody to beat me. It maybe sounds a little bit not right, but I’d rather get upset in the amateurs than the professionals.”
“I tried to find somebody to beat me, and then I’d work more on my mistakes, and then I couldn’t find anyone.”
“People take the amateurs like a professional career, they pull out, if they’re a little bit injured, they don’t compete, they want everything perfect.”
“That’s why, after six or seven amateur fights, people go professional because they can’t cope with this atmosphere.”
“I think people shouldn’t be afraid of losing in the amateurs, we should go out there, just compete, win, lose, it doesn’t matter, nobody cares.”
Muhammad Mokaev’s Upcoming Opponent Training in Dagestan
With Mokaev`s fight at 971 FC rapidly approaching, he is undergoing rigorous training to ensure he delivers an explosive performance designed to capture the attention of the UFC.
Conversely, his opponent, Alisher Gabdullin, a former Oktagon champion, is making a significant effort to prepare for the challenge by training in Dagestan alongside the formidable Islam Makhachev.
While training with the sport`s current pound-for-pound number one is undoubtedly a superb preparation strategy, Mokaev pointed out that his opponent might have overlooked one vital detail.
On his Instagram story, `The Punisher` remarked: “They go to Dagestan, but they forget I was born in Dagestan.”
