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Tag: Amir Albazi

  • Kyoji Horiguchi Wants UFC Belt, Offers Pantoja First Defense

    Kyoji Horiguchi Wants UFC Belt, Offers Pantoja First Defense

    Kyoji Horiguchi made his intentions crystal clear after his UFC Vegas 113 victory: he wants the flyweight title, and he doesn’t care who the champion is when he gets there.

    The Japanese star improved to 2-0 in his second UFC stint with an impressive decision win over Amir Albazi in Saturday’s co-main event, extending his overall winning streak to seven (excluding a no-contest).

    Horiguchi Declares Title Intentions

    At the UFC Vegas 113 post-fight press conference, Horiguchi was asked whether he’d prefer to avoid fighting teammate Alexandre Pantoja for the belt. His response was direct.

    “I don’t care. I want a belt,” Horiguchi said. “If the champion is Pantoja, yes Pantoja. If it’s other guy, yes other guy. That’s all.”

    When pressed on what he’d do if he captured the title, Horiguchi confirmed Pantoja would receive the first defense: “Of course [Pantoja gets the first shot].”

    Seven Straight Wins and Counting

    Horiguchi’s case for a title shot is becoming difficult to ignore. The 35-year-old carries a 9-1 record inside the octagon and has amassed seven consecutive wins dating back to his dominant run in RIZIN.

    A former RIZIN and Bellator bantamweight champion, Horiguchi returned to the UFC specifically to pursue the one title that has eluded him throughout his career. Fighters and fans alike have tipped him to eventually become champion, and his performances continue to validate that belief.

    Horiguchi Also Reveals Broken Hand

    Making the Albazi victory even more impressive, Horiguchi revealed post-fight that he competed with a broken hand. The injury didn’t prevent him from dominating the three-round contest, though it could factor into the timeline for his next booking.

    If the UFC grants him the next flyweight title shot, Horiguchi would have the opportunity to make history as the only fighter to hold championships in RIZIN, Bellator, and the UFC — a distinction that would cement his legacy as one of the sport’s most accomplished competitors.

  • “Will Be UFC Champion…” – Reactions To Kyoji Horiguchi’s Performance At UFC Vegas 113

    “Will Be UFC Champion…” – Reactions To Kyoji Horiguchi’s Performance At UFC Vegas 113

    After already capturing gold in Bellator and RIZIN, UFC Vegas 113’s Kyoji Horiguchi is aiming for the UFC flyweight championship to be next to add to his mantle.

    Horiguchi defeated Amir Albazi in a pivotal flyweight contenders’ matchup that served as the UFC Vegas 113 co-main event.

    The two felt each other out to start the fight, with Horiguchi looking to show off his speed. Albazi pinned Horiguchi to the fence on a couple of occasions during the round. Both also flashed their power, with Albazi at one point scoring a knockdown with a right hand.

    Albazi continued to look to go through Horiguchi’s speedy storm and press him. Horiguchi, however, landed a pair of right hands during the second round that wobbled Albazi. Horiguchi’s speed and footwork led him to take a notable lead in significant strikes through two rounds.

    Albazi’s corner encouraged him to be wrestling-heavy in the third, and Albazi got Horiguchi in his grasp in the round’s opening minute. Horiguchi would find his way out of Albazi’s hands, however, and did damage with several punches that busted up Albazi’s nose and put him on wobbly legs.

    Those ended up being the keys for Horiguchi, who won with two 30-27 scorecards and a 29-28.

    Kyoji Horiguchi Aims For Flyweight Title Shot After Defeating Amir Albazi At UFC Vegas 113

    Horiguchi has now won five straight and is unbeaten in his last eight. He made his UFC debut at UFC Qatar in November, scoring a third-round submission of Tagir Ulanbekov.

    Albazi was on a six-fight win streak at one point before injuries derailed his activity. This was his first fight since a loss to former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Edmonton in November 2024.

  • UFC Vegas 108 Main Event Between Amir Albazi And Tatsuro Taira Reportedly Scrapped

    UFC Vegas 108 Main Event Between Amir Albazi And Tatsuro Taira Reportedly Scrapped

    UFC Vegas 108 appears to have taken a major hit, with its main event reportedly falling through just days ahead of the event.

    UFC Vegas 108 is set to go down on Saturday, August 2, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a pivotal flyweight showdown between Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira slated to headline the card.

    However, according to a recent report from Daniel Levi (@BestFightPicks on X), the main event has reportedly been pulled due to unknown circumstances. He also noted that the upcoming Fight Night will feature an entirely new headlining bout.

    It remains unclear whether the issue stems from Albazi or Taira’s camp. “The Prince” was set to return to action for the first time since suffering a unanimous decision loss to former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Edmonton last November.

    On the other hand, Taira was most recently seen at UFC Vegas 98 in October 2024, where he dropped a closely contested split decision to Brandon Royval.

    Which Fights Are Booked For UFC Vegas 108?

    The UFC Vegas 108 lineup includes a pair of lightweight matchups, as Mateusz Rębecki takes on Chris Duncan and Elves Brener squares off against Esteban Ribovics. The event will also feature a women’s bantamweight bout between Karol Rosa and Nora Cornolle, along with a welterweight showdown between veterans Neil Magny and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.

    Here is the current lineup for UFC Vegas 108:

    Main Card

    • Mateusz Rębecki vs. Chris Duncan; lightweight
    • Elves Brener vs. Esteban Ribovics; lightweight
    • Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle; women’s bantamweight
    • Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos; welterweight
    • Danny Silva vs. Kevin Vallejos: featherweight

    Preliminary Card

    • Rinya Nakamura vs. Nathan Fletcher; bantamweight
    • Rodolfo Vieira vs. Tresean Gore; middleweight
    • Nick Klein vs. Andrey Pulyaev; middleweight
    • Piera Rodriguez vs. Ketlen Souza; strawweight
    • Rafael Estevam vs. Felipe Bunes; flyweight
    • Azamat Bekoev vs. Yousri Belgaroui; middleweight

    The fight card, bout order, and number of matchups are all subject to change.

  • Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Amir Albazi Issues First Statement On Lopsided Loss To Brandon Moreno At UFC Edmonton

    Having tasted defeat for the first time in the UFC, flyweight contender Amir Albazi has vowed to fix the holes in his game and bounce back stronger.

    After health issues kept him out of the cage for 17 months following a main event win over Kai Kara-France, Albazi finally had the opportunity to stake his claim for a title shot this past weekend in Edmonton.

    Instead of doing so, however, and nothing his biggest victory to date, his perfect UFC record was blemished courtesy of Brandon Moreno’s efforts.

    The Mexican snapped “The Prince’s” six-fight winning run in emphatic fashion to close out Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, beating the Iraqi up across five rounds to collect convincing nods on all three scorecards.

    A disappointed Albazi took to Instagram a day later to speak on the result, thanking his supporters and promising to display an improved version of himself next time out.

    “It wasn’t my night last night, but this is part of life. You win some, you lose some,” Albazi said. “All respect to Brandon Moreno, he was the better man. I’ll be back, I promise. I’ll be back on that horse and keep improving, keep getting better. You guys will see me soon. Thank you for the support.”

    “No excuses,” Albazi wrote in the caption. “You win some and lose some but i will be back better 👊🏽 i promise. Thanks for the support.”

    For Moreno, this past weekend’s main event marked a crucial rebound result. He previously lost two straight by split decision to Alexandre Pantoja — losing the flyweight gold in the process — and Brandon Royval.

    He’ll now look ahead to a potential title eliminator, as he seeks the chance to achieve three-time champ status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

  • ‘Like Holloway vs. Kattar’ – Fans React To Brandon Moreno’s Masterclass Against Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    ‘Like Holloway vs. Kattar’ – Fans React To Brandon Moreno’s Masterclass Against Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    Anyone who tried to write off Brandon Moreno was taught a lesson in Saturday night’s UFC Edmonton main event, where the former two-time flyweight champion put a beatdown on fellow top contender Amir Albazi.

    From the get go, Moreno looked to utilize his striking to the nth degree. And it was a strong start in the first round, as he landed notable combinations and used his right hand to put Albazi on the back foot, even causing a slip at one point. “The Prince” seemed to be too patient as the fight stretched into the second frame, which saw the Mexican continue to land, land, and land some more.

    Moreno’s pacing and accuracy continued to the point where Albazi’s coaches berated him at one point, stating that he was losing every single round with brutal honesty. However, the Iraqi had no answer in the championship rounds despite his best efforts.

    “The Assassin Baby” won on all three judges’ scorecards (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) in a masterclass domination.

    Brandon Moreno Dominates Amir Albazi In UFC Edmonton Main Event

    https://twitter.com/MMAGamblingtips/status/1852915629235269778
    https://twitter.com/GuillotineGeeks/status/1852916926185410629

    Moreno vs. Albazi was originally scheduled to take place in February at UFC Mexico City, but a neck injury forced the Iraqi contender to withdraw. The home favorite ended up being defeated by Brandon Royval in the main event of that card.

    That result came in the Mexican’s first fight since dropping the UFC flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 in July 2023.

    Meanwhile, the Canada-held card this weekend was Albazi’s first loss in the Octagon and saw his six-fight win streak snapped. Albazi’s last loss prior to tonight came against Jose “Shorty” Torres in Brave CF back in April 2019.

  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

    In the main event, former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno returns close to nine months on from a defeat to Brandon Royval in Mexico City. Having now lost two straight by way of split decision, “The Assassin Baby” will look to get back to winning ways at the expense of the charging Amir Albazi.

    Setting the stage for them in another 125-pound contest will be Erin Blanchfield and Rose Namajunas. After winning two straight in the division this year, the ex-strawweight queen will look to notch her biggest flyweight success to date and stake her claim for a title shot by adding to the woes of “Cold Blooded,” who was beaten by Manon Fiorot last time out.

    Elsewhere, heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis makes the walk for his latest assignment, Mike Malott has the chance to rebound on home soil, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz adds to his Octagon experience.

    Ahead of the event, all 28 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Edmonton ceremonial weigh-ins.

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 7 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After staging its latest numbered event from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the MMA leader has remained on the road for a return to the “Great White North,” where Edmonton’s Rogers Place hosts a UFC Fight Night.

    Topping the lineup on Nov. 2 is a clash of ranked flyweights as former champion Brandon Moreno looks to break his two-fight losing skid by stalling the charge and title ambitions of Amir Albazi.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, which will see former strawweight queen Rose Namajunas look to keep her ball rolling at flyweight. To secure a third straight win at 125 pounds this year, “Thug Rose” must get the better of #3-ranked contender Erin Blanchfield.

    Elsewhere, the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, home favorite Mike Malott, and bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi takes place on Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno (125.5lbs) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Erin Blanchfield (125.5lbs) vs. Rose Namajunas (125lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis (266lbs) vs. Jhonata Diniz (257lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Caio Machado (205lbs) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205lbs)
    • Middleweight: Marc-André Barriault (185lbs) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5lbs)
    • Welterweight: Mike Malott (170.5lbs) vs. Trevin Giles (170lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Bantamweight: Aiemann Zahabi (135.5lbs) vs. Pedro Munhoz (135lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski (125lbs) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Charles Jourdain (135lbs) vs. Victor Henry (135lbs)
    • Featherweight: Jack Shore (145.5lbs) vs. Youssef Zalal (145lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Alexandr Romanov (261lbs) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (264lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Serhiy Sidey (135lbs) vs. Garrett Armfield (135lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Chad Anheliger (135lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jamey-Lyn Horth (126lbs) vs. Ivana Petrovic (125lbs)
  • UFC Edmonton Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Moreno vs. Albazi, Blanchfield vs. Namajunas, & More

    UFC Edmonton Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Moreno vs. Albazi, Blanchfield vs. Namajunas, & More

    UFC Edmonton is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, November 2, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who will look to bounce back from consecutive split decision losses at the hands of Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval when he competes in the “Great White North.” To Accomplish that feat, the Mexican fan favorite is tasked with stalling the surge of 17-1 contender Amir Albazi.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see ex-strawweight queen Rose Namajunas make the walk for the third time this year. If she’s to make it three flyweight wins in a row and stake her claim for a shot at two-division glory, “Thug Rose” must send the #3-ranked Erin Blanchfield to the first losing skid of her career.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis, welterweight prospect Mike Malott, bantamweight veteran Pedro Munhoz, and the always entertaining Charles Jourdain.

    UFC Edmonton: Moreno vs. Albazi Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Edmonton (as of 10/31), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Brandon Moreno (-175) vs. Amir Albazi (+145)
    • Erin Blanchfield (-130) vs. Rose Namajunas (+110)
    • Derrick Lewis (+145) vs. Jhonata Diniz (-175)
    • Caio Machado (-148) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+124)
    • Marc-André Barriault (-205) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (+170)
    • Mike Malott (-185) vs. Trevin Giles (+230)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Aiemann Zahabi (-125) vs. Pedro Munhoz (+105)
    • Ariane Lipski (+120) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (-230)
    • Charles Jourdain (-142) vs. Victor Henry (+120)
    • Jack Shore (+250) vs. Youssef Zalal (-310)
    • Alexandr Romanov (-102) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (-118)
    • Serhiy Sidey (-142) vs. Garrett Armfield (+120)
    • Chad Anheliger (+160) vs. Cody Gibson (-192)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth (-218) vs. Ivana Petrovic (+180)
  • Alexandre Pantoja Predicts Moreno vs. Albazi Winner At UFC Edmonton

    Alexandre Pantoja Predicts Moreno vs. Albazi Winner At UFC Edmonton

    This weekend in Edmonton, top five flyweights meet in the main event as Amir Albazi looks for his biggest win to date when facing the former champion, Brandon Moreno. We already know who Alexander Pantoja’s next title challenger is but either man can put themselves in the mix with a win here.

    For Moreno, it’s going to be hard for him to earn a shot at Pantoja after losing to the Brazilian champion three times in his career. It’s still important for the Mexican star to bounce back here following his loss to Brandon Royval in February.

    Albazi is one of the few new contenders at the top of the rankings who would provide a new challenge for Pantoja, assuming that the champion is able to retain the title in his fight with Kai Asakura at UFC 310 in December. He’s riding a five-fight winning streak since signing with the UFC and adding Moreno to that list will put him within reach.

    In a recent interview with Sherdog, Pantoja gave his thoughts on how he sees this weekend’s main event playing out. He also spoke about how he sees a fight against the winner playing out if it does happen down the line.

    “I think Albazi has more chance to get the victory. He’s very close to fight for the belt, I think he not gonna miss the opportunity, you know. Moreno is an incredible fighter, former champ, but maybe Albazi want more in that moment. Albazi maybe want more and his grappling is very good. I don’t know if Moreno can defend the takedown shots. I don’t know if Moreno, his boxing, can work against Albazi because Albazi moves a lot, he has very good wrestling.

    “I think that fight is going to be a decision for Albazi and I don’t want to say like if you have an easy fight or something like that but I like to grapple. I think in that moment right now, a grappler for me, it’s a perfect fight. It’s a good challenge of course, all is different but I have very good jiu-jitsu and I’m very comfortable in the ground game.”

  • Brandon Moreno Set To Return In UFC Fight Night Edmonton Main Event On Nov. 2

    Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will bring his brief layoff to an end in the “Great White North” later this year.

    The changes keep on coming for the promotion’s return to Edmonton in Canada on November 2. When the card was originally announced, a flyweight showdown between Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield was set as the main event, with heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Alexandr Romanov co-headlining.

    But after the latter of those bouts was split in two to create fresh matchups, the UFC Fight Night in Alberta now has a new headline pairing.

    UFC CEO Dana White revealed in a social media video this week that Mexico’s Moreno (21-8-2) will make his return in the main event for a rearranged clash against rising contender Amir Albazi (17-1).

    Moreno Looks To End Losing Skid, Albazi’s Perfect UFC Record

    When he makes the walk this November, Moreno will be looking to break his first losing skid since 2018.

    “The Assassin Baby” enjoyed a strong start to 2023, regaining the flyweight gold from longtime rival Deiveson Figueiredo six months on from an interim title win over Kai Kara-France. But as was the case with his first reign, Moreno fell short in his attempt at recording a successful defense, with Alexandre Pantoja emerging victorious from their Fight of the Year war at UFC 290.

    The Mexican return this past February for an appearance on home soil, where he was scheduled to do battle with Albazi. But after an injury forced the Iraqi out, Moreno fell on the wrong side of a narrow split decision against replacement opponent Brandon Royval.

    While he announced plans to take an extended period away from the cage to recharge, Moreno will be back in action just nine months later, looking for his matchup with Albazi to make it to the cage at the second time of trying.

    For “The Prince,” the Nov. 2 headliner marks the opportunity for him to stake his claim for a first shot at title glory on MMA’s biggest stage. The former Brave CF standout has gone 5-0 in the Octagon thus far, most recently outpointing Kara-France in a tight five-round main event at the Apex in June 2023.

    With this addition, the fights currently expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Edmonton on Nov. 2 are as follows:

    • Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi (flyweight main event)
    • Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas (women’s flyweight co-main event)
    • Derrick Lewis vs. Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)
    • Pedro Munhoz vs. Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)
    • Ariane da Silva vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight)
    • Mike Malott vs. Trevin Giles (welterweight)
    • Marc-André Barriault vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (middleweight)
    • Serhiy Sidey vs. Garrett Armfield (bantamweight)
    • Alexandr Romanov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (heavyweight)
    • Chad Anheliger vs. Cody Gibson (bantamweight)
    • Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Ivana Petrović (women’s flyweight)
    • Caio Machado vs. Brendson Ribeiro (light heavyweight)
    Amir Albazi
    Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • Muhammad Mokaev Shockingly Accuses UFC Flyweight Contender Of Pulling A Gun On Him: ‘He Was Still Shouting At Us, Saying It’s Better If We Leave…’

    Muhammad Mokaev Shockingly Accuses UFC Flyweight Contender Of Pulling A Gun On Him: ‘He Was Still Shouting At Us, Saying It’s Better If We Leave…’

    Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC departure came as a shock to many based on the fact that he was continuing to win inside the Octagon and clearly has a lot of potential.

    However, things behind the scenes appear to have been troublesome for some time and this was the defining factor in the promotion’s decision to not re-sign him, after he fought out his contract at UFC 304.

    Dana White was recently asked to once again comment on whether Mokaev still has a future with the MMA leader in his post-fight press conference following the return of the Contender Series.

    He stated that “The Punisher” only has himself to blame for being in this situation after he upset key members of the UFC team with his actions.

    Though some of the off-camera issues have come to light in the public eye, there are likely other aspects of Mokaev’s run in the promotion that remain untold.

    Muhammad Mokaev Details More Controversy With Fellow Flyweight Contenders

    During a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, Mokaev spoke about a previously unknown altercation that took place between him and another top flyweight.

    The build to his fight with Manel Kape was very controversial, with the undefeated contender admitting after their fight to sucker punching his opponent on fight week.

    Mokaev has also had a difficult, to say the least, relationship with the #3-ranked contender, Amir Albazi.

    During the interview, he told a story about one confrontation between them, accusing Albazi of pulling a gun out on him and his friend before issuing them a warning and leaving the scene.

    “We drove away, Albazi was standing around the corner… He acted unusual. He ran out of the car and got into a fighting stance. At that time, he had a neck operation. I thought that if I beat him now, he will go to the police. He is like that. I got into fighting stance too and he pointed a gun on me. I had my friend with me. My friend tried to flinch him, Albazi didn’t do anything. We drove away, he was still shouting at us saying it’s better if we leave.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’

  • Amir Albazi On Muhammad Mokaev Fight Being Off The Table Following UFC Exit: ’10 Out Of 10 Times, I Would Beat Him’

    Amir Albazi On Muhammad Mokaev Fight Being Off The Table Following UFC Exit: ’10 Out Of 10 Times, I Would Beat Him’

    UFC flyweight Amir Albazi is frustrated not to have had the chance to face Muhammad Mokaev inside the Octagon, believing he would comfortably get the better of the 24-year-old.

    Albazi and Mokaev have long been two of the top prospects surging toward contention at 125 pounds and both found themselves inside the top five this year, vying for a shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s gold.

    During their respective charges up the flyweight ladder, they didn’t shy away from going back and forth with each other, with “The Punisher” accusing “The Prince” of avoiding a fight with him last year.

    The pair now won’t be able to settle their grudge inside the Octagon anytime soon after Mokaev didn’t have his contract renewed following his win over Manel Kape at last month’s pay-per-view in Manchester.

    While reacting to that widely discussed decision, Albazi once again made it clear how he thinks a battle with Mokaev would have played out…

    Albazi: I Was Never Impressed With Mokaev

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Albazi gave his take on the promotion’s decision not to re-sign his flyweight rival following the completion of his contract at UFC 304.

    “The Prince” first reiterated his confidence when it comes to how he matches up against Mokaev, insisting “The Punisher” did little to impress during his undefeated 7-0 run on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “To be honest, regarding the fight, I was never impressed with Mokaev. I always thought 10 out of 10 times, I would beat him,” Albazi said. “That’s just my opinion of things. … I would have loved to fight him to just prove to people that I could take him on and that wouldn’t be a problem for me. But it is what it is.”

    Nevertheless, despite the animosity between them, Albazi refused to pile in on Mokaev following his UFC release, noting he would never take joy from a fellow fighter losing their job.

    “Him getting cut — I don’t like the guy, but I don’t want to take away people’s jobs,” Albazi stated. “So, I still think it sucks that he never got to continue fighting in the UFC with his winning streak.”

    It remains to be seen what lies in the future for Mokaev, who has frequently kept his sights on a UFC return in the days since his departure.

    And it appears that an announcement regarding his next career move in pursuit of an Octagon comeback isn’t too far away judging by the Dagestan-born Brit’s latest social media post.