Muhammad Mokaev recently discussed the comparisons drawn by fans between himself and boxing great Vasiliy Lomachenko regarding their amateur careers.
He is scheduled to fight Alisher Gabdullin at 971FC in Dubai on June 14th. A victory in this bout could pave the way for his return to the UFC and a potential matchup against Alexandre Pantoja.
Mokaev, a British fighter, has showcased remarkable talent throughout his career, attributing his skills to an extensive amateur background, considered by some to be among the best in MMA history. Given this, comparisons to Lomachenko, known as `Hi-Tech`, are understandable.
Muhammad Mokaev Gives His Thoughts on Vasiliy Lomachenko Comparisons
Vasiliy Lomachenko is celebrated for an amateur boxing career featuring exceptional footwork and strategic brilliance, culminating in an astounding 396-1 record. Although Muhammad Mokaev`s amateur run was shorter, he established his prowess with an undefeated 23-0 record, including two IMMAF World Championship titles.
Both fighters have successfully transitioned to professional competition. Lomachenko achieved world championships in three different weight classes, while Mokaev remains undefeated in his first 15 professional bouts, with significant potential for future success.
Despite the comparisons, Mokaev responded with humility when asked how his amateur record compares to Lomachenko`s. He emphasized that his amateur journey was primarily focused on developing his skills rather than simply accumulating wins.
Mokaev stated: “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.”
He continued: “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 Next Opponent Training in Dagestan
As Mokaev`s fight at 971 FC approaches, he is training intensely, aiming to deliver a performance that will impress UFC officials and fans alike.
Meanwhile, his opponent, Alisher Gabdullin, a former Oktagon champion, is making significant efforts to prepare, reportedly training in Dagestan alongside notable fighters like Islam Makhachev, in an attempt to secure an upset victory.
While training with top-tier athletes in Dagestan is certainly excellent preparation, Mokaev pointed out that his opponent might be overlooking a crucial factor.
Mokaev, also known as `The Punisher`, commented on this via his Instagram story, stating: “They go to Dagestan, but they forget I was born in Dagestan.”
