Muhammad Mokaev says he turned down an offer to challenge Mikey Musumeci for a UFC BJJ championship after the promotion offered him $10,000 for the match.
According to Mokaev, the UFC approached him about facing Musumeci in a bantamweight title fight. The former UFC flyweight contender says he was open to the matchup, but wanted the grappling appearance to also provide a pathway back to the UFC’s MMA roster.
When he was told the UFC BJJ opportunity would be separate from any potential MMA return, Mokaev says he declined the fight.
“I said if I do this, I want to come back to UFC,” Mokaev explained while discussing the offer.
The UFC has not publicly confirmed the proposed matchup or the reported $10,000 purse, meaning those details currently come from Mokaev’s account of the negotiations.
Still, the claim offers an interesting glimpse into UFC BJJ’s matchmaking strategy as the promotion continues to expand its professional grappling product.
Mokaev would have presented a very different challenge for Musumeci.
Although best known for his MMA career, Mokaev has an extensive grappling and wrestling background and went unbeaten during his UFC run. Pairing him with Musumeci would also have given UFC BJJ another matchup combining an elite submission grappler with a recognizable UFC name.
That strategy is already visible on the promotion’s upcoming card.
Musumeci returns at UFC BJJ 11 on September 24, where he will move up to featherweight to face UFC veteran Bryce Mitchell in a non-title match.
Musumeci has been one of UFC BJJ’s most dominant competitors since the promotion launched, compiling a 4-0 record with four submission victories.
UFC BJJ 11 will also feature Mason Fowler defending the light-heavyweight championship against Nick Rodriguez.
Mokaev’s claim raises an additional question about the economics surrounding UFC BJJ.
If the reported $10,000 offer is accurate, the proposed purse provides one of the clearer public glimpses yet into what at least some recognizable crossover athletes may be offered to compete for the promotion.
For Mokaev, however, the opportunity apparently wasn’t enough on its own.
His priority remains a return to MMA competition inside the UFC.
Until then, the proposed matchup with Musumeci will remain one of UFC BJJ’s more interesting fights that never made it to the mat.
