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Muhammad Mokaev and his team straight-up denied the rumor floating around about his UFC exit. Elsewhere, Leon Edwards made his first comments on the loss to Belal Muhammad.
Sportskeeda MMA is back with today's top combat sports updates. Enjoy!
Muhammad Mokaev's team says PFL negotiations had nothing to do with his UFC exit
After Muhammad Mokaev's controversial win over Manel Kape at UFC 304, Dana White announced that they would not re-sign the fighter and that "PFL is going to get a great undefeated guy."
While it seemed like a sarcastic jab from White at the moment, a recent report by Ben Davis added a new perspective to the matter. He shared screenshots from an individual who claimed to have inside news that Mokaev was axed for undergoing negotiation talks with the PFL while being on contract:
"Essentially, he was trying to use the number from PFL as leverage. That caused the UFC to say, "F**k that, go to the PFL."
Take a look at all the screenshots here.
However, shortly after the news spread, Mokaev's manager Tim Simpson denied the rumor. Damon Martin said that Simpson called the claim "completely false."
Mokaev further added to the denial, stating that his goal is to become a UFC champion and he hopes that he's re-signed by the company.
Leon Edwards reacts to title loss
In Leon Edwards' first public statement since losing the welterweight belt to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304, the Brit apologized for his underperformance and promised to bounce back:
"To my fans, I'm sorry I couldn't get the job done this time. I have been through harder times than this in life and I will rise again. Thanks for all the love and support. I will get this back in blood. #headshot."
Fans and fellow MMA professionals were incredibly supportive in the comment section. Personalities like Chuck Norris, Jon Anik, Arnold Allen, and others commented on the post, offering encouragement.
Colby Covington comments on Belal Muhammad's win, potential title fight
To no one's surprise, Colby Covington was unimpressed with Belal Muhammad's UFC 304 performance. He told Submission Radio in an interview released on Monday that Muhammad fought in a way where fans "lost" and he only won because Leon Edwards had "lost his motivation:
"I know that Leon made so much money in his last fight with me that I don't think he's hungry anymore... He's a quitter, he's shown that in the past. You can tell he just doesn't have the hunger anymore."
Speaking on how a fight between them would go, Covington said:
"If I pass with him, he won't be Champion anymore, he won't be a man anymore. I will take his man card and we know he's still a virg*n.''
Covington added that he did not see the fight as he was busy attending Donald Trump's Bitcoin Conference and watching the former president's back after the recent assassination attack.
