UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev made headlines with his performance at UFC 286, displaying the heart and resilience that very few men possess in the fight game. Following his impressive win, the 22-year-old decided to don the promotional hat and went on to call out fellow flyweight Alex Perez, currently ranked six places above him in the division.

Criticizing Perez for repeated pull-outs and cancellations, Mokaev had earlier demanded that the 31-year-old veteran be removed from the rankings. Now doubling down on the American, the Russian-born fighter who prefers to go by his nickname ‘The Punisher’, took yet another jibe at Perez in a fresh tweet, drawing reactions from his fans and followers.

Muhammad Mokaev calls for a fight against Alex Perez

Sharing a list of Perez’s cancellations, the 22-year-old wondered how the American managed to hang on to his number sixth-ranked in a highly competitive division.

Claiming that he’d happily retire the veteran, Mokaev demanded a date for the match-up.

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“This guy is ranked number 6 in my division. I’m sure this isn’t normal Alex Perez I can retire you fast track, just let me know date of your retirement.” he tweeted.

The 22-year-old’s desire to face Perez comes down to the fact that he just doesn’t have his sights set on UFC gold, but also aims to be the youngest one to ever do so. Although how that plan works out is up for debate, there’s no denying Mokaev’s hunger could see him don the title at some point in the future.

What’s interesting here is how, despite calling Perez out for pulling out of fights, he still wanted to face the veteran; knowing well that he might end up getting the raw end of the deal in case the American gets injured again.

This sentiment was also shared by his fans on the Twitter thread that followed.

Fans react to Mokaev’s latest tweet attacking Perez

A few of the responses mentioned that it was unlikely Perez would be ready to fight anytime soon, considering the complications he suffered prior to his last fight.

Another fan shared a rather fair assessment of the scenario, pointing out to Perez’s struggles.

Mokaev’s fans took their turns in attacking the sixth-ranked fighter. Dubbing him a “pullout merchant” one individual asked the prospect to look for another matchup instead.

Many doubted if Perez would even show up for a fight against Mokaev.

But there were a few fans of Perez who felt that the American was a much better fighter than the 22-year-old.

Ultimately, it looks like Muhammad Mokaev is trying to make the best out of the situation. A fight against a higher-ranked veteran does open up multiple options for him in the future. Also, considering his grand plans of winning the title, ‘The Punisher’ might just have found the best candidate for his first step in that direction.

“The Flyweight Division Has a New Star”: Henry Cejudo, Jamahal Hill & MMA Pros Approve Muhammad Mokaev After Unreal Resiliency at UFC 286

What do you think of this matchup? Can Mokaev pull off another win here and continue his unbeaten run? Let us know in the comments.

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