Top prospect Muhammad Mokaev promises more fireworks at UFC London after dazzling debut

Muhammad Mokaev’s much-anticipated UFC debut lasted all of 58 seconds.

The highly touted flyweight, granted the opening slot on the UFC’s grand return to London in March, took out Cody Durden in a blink of an eye at The O2 Arena, first dropping his opponent with a flying knee and then locking a guillotine to secure the submission win.

Mokaev, only 21, had backed up the hefty pre-event hype. And then some.

“It felt amazing, to be honest, a perfect match-up, perfect finish for the debut,” Mokaev tells The National now, as he gets set for a second UFC outing, once more in London, this weekend against veteran Charles Johnson.

“I showed I can strike; I can submit guys. I think opponents watched this and say now, ‘He’s not just a wrestler’ - they’re worrying about my striking too.”

A two-time IMMAF world champion at bantamweight, whose 23-0 amateur record and 5-0 pro resume was built primarily on prodigious wrestling, Mokaev had sent a message to the flyweight division. Arguably, to the sport.

He is eager now to build on that electric bow. Mokaev spent some time between his first UFC appearance and the upcoming second at American Top Team (ATT) in the United States, training at the renowned stable with the likes of No-4-ranked flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja, No 12 Su Mudaerji and hard-hitting bantamweight Pedro Munhoz.

The uptick in talent should be evident this weekend. The confidence, too.

Back at it!