UFC exclusive: 'They know I'm the real deal' - Muhammad Mokaev on Alexandre Pantoja praise

Muhammad Mokaev, in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, says that praise from the likes of current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja shows that he is "the real deal".

By contrast, Mokaev called out fans of influencer turned boxer Jake Paul for not "understanding" UFC, amid criticism in some quarters for the Briton's recent displays.

Mokaev, 23, beat Alex Perez at UFC Vegas 87 by unanimous decision and declared afterwards he was "ready to fight for the belt" that belongs to Brazil's Pantoja.

"Sometimes [the people] who actually understand UFC, they don't say this [negative comments]," Mokaev told TNT Sports.

"But you know the Jake Paul fans - they will never understand, there is no point to explain to them.

"The most important thing is my team, my sparring partners, everybody knows where I'm up to.

"Even the champion, I have trained in the past with Pantoja. He said himself 'this is the future superstar' in the gym.

"Nobody throws words around like this, especially when you're in the same division. They know I'm the real deal."

Reflecting on his victory over Perez on March 2, Mokaev added: "Even on my bad days, they can't beat me. Everybody talks about I didn't land so many strikes on Perez, but he's an ex-title contender. He should be finishing this young kid who just came to UFC.

"He's been in the rankings for the past six, seven years. I was fighting in amateurs. At his level, he should be finishing me. Everybody should talk about the hype train just got smashed. Everybody wants me to like kill these veterans.

"They compete in professional leagues, [they are] professional MMA fighters. I was in the refugee centre, I didn't even know what was MMA or the difference between Bellator and UFC. I came and made a big difference in the division straightaway, just been two years in the organisation.

"I have six fights, the most fights winning streak right now in the UFC flyweight division. I don't know what else they want to see."

UFC is experiencing something of a golden era in the UK, with Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards both achieving champion status - albeit 'interim' in the case of Aspinall.

Mokaev said these fighters - and others - are "role models" to kids eyeing a route into MMA.

"It's great [the British scene]," Mokaev said. "Michael Bisping, world champion. Brad Pickett, he wasn't champion but I think he's a people champ, and he's done a lot for UK MMA. Beating Demetrious Johnson, that's like an amazing result.

"The sport is growing in this country, I think this sport is needed in this country."

He added: "There's a lot of money involved, a lot of media involved. People want to be out there with fame.

"Kids are looking up to guys like Leon Edwards, Arnold Allen, Tom Aspinall. And they take them as role models.

"I talk a lot with Tom. Good, good people and good role models to follow."

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