UFC 294: Muhammad Mokaev ready to show 2.0 version on return to octagon

No 11-ranked flyweight takes on Tim Elliott in Abu Dhabi aiming to extend his perfect UFC record to five wins

British-Dagestani flyweight Muhammad Mokaev trains at the UFC Gym in Manama, Bahrain ahead of his upcoming bout at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Muhammad Mokaev takes on Tim Elliott at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on October 21, 2023.

The downstairs room, encompassing a large space for mats and with painted inspirational quotes peering down from the sport’s doyen Gracie family – “my ego is my enemy”; “you either win or you learn” – feels stripped back, basic, far from the fray.

UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev goes through his warm-up exercises.

UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev wrestles with Dean Garnett, his long-time Liverpudlian coach and confidant who only just touched down from the UK.

Muhammad Mokaev trains at the UFC Gym in Manama, Bahrain.

UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev takes time out from training to pray at Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Manama, Bahrain.

Muhammad Mokaev is a devout Muslim and his faith is a driving force in both his career and life.

Before the session is out, Muhammad Mokaev straddles a grappling dummy, honing some ground-and-pound that would make human eyes water.

UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev trains at the UFC Gym in Manama, Bahrain.

Muhammad Mokaev prepares for his upcoming flyweight fight against Tim Elliott at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev trains at the UFC Gym in Manama, Bahrain.

UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev prays at Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Manama, Bahrain.

Muhammad Mokaev is unbeaten in his UFC career to date.

Muhammad Mokaev faces Tim Elliott, a dangerous UFC veteran still some way from his dotage, in one of the most intriguing bouts at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

Muhammad Mokaev said he always targeted UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi for his return to the octagon as the fast-rising flyweight aims to take another step closer to a title shot when he fights Tim Elliott on Saturday.

Mokaev, 23, recently recovered from a knee injury, sustained in his victory against Jafel Filho in March, and the Dagestan-born British fighter is out to extend the perfect start to his UFC career to five wins at Etihad Arena.

UFC 294 represents arguably his toughest challenge so far – 10th-ranked Elliott sits one place above Mokaev in the flyweight standings – although the Manchester fighter is considered the firm favourite.

Mokaev can expect the majority of the support in Abu Dhabi and can bank on his experience from fighting in the capital last year, when he defeated Malcolm Gordon by submission at UFC 280.

“I have an amazing fan base in Abu Dhabi,” Mokaev said. “Even when I fought on the prelims last year, the packed arena made it feel like a main event.

"I am very excited to be back and fighting again – I am as excited now as when I made my debut. When I got injured in March, I knew there would be UFC in Abu Dhabi and straight away I told the UFC, ‘Book me for this’. They told me I might not be recovered in time, but I said, ‘I will be recovered to fight there’.”

Signed to KHK MMA – the mixed martial arts team created by Bahrain's Prince Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa – and having begun his professional career with the Bahrain-based Brave Combat Federation, Mokaev returned to the Gulf nation last month to acclimatise for UFC 294.

“We came out here [to Bahrain] on September 7 because the climate is a big difference to the UK," Mokaev said. "A lot of fighters make the mistake of coming out too late, but I wasn’t going to do that.”

With 10 wins, no losses and one no contest as a professional, Mokaev is one of the highest-rated prospects in MMA, but he warned there is still plenty more to come.

“I think my all-round game has got a lot better – but especially my strength," he said. "I have been working on a lot of strength conditioning and you will see a different version of me in Abu Dhabi – this is Mokaev 2.0.”

Mokaev's fight with Elliott is set to headline the preliminary card at UFC 294, before a stacked main event led by Islam Makhachev's lightweight title defence against flyweight king Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch of their thrilling first fight at UFC 284 in Perth in February.

Makhachev had been scheduled for a different rematch, against Charles Oliveira, but the Brazilian he beat to win the title at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi last year withdrew at 12 days' notice after sustaining an eye injury in sparring.

UFC 294 will also see former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman make his middleweight debut against highly-rated prospect Khamzat Chimaev. Like Volkanovski, Usman is a late call-up following Paulo Costa's withdrawal from injury.