Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall says "it's a shame" that flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev was recently let go.
Mokaev made the walk late last month at the UFC 304 pay-per-view with his sights set on securing a first shot at gold on mixed martial arts' biggest stage. Instead, he departed the cage without a spot on the roster anymore.
While the exact reason for the promotion not re-signing him remains undisclosed, UFC CEO Dana White insisted it had nothing to do with his fighting style, which came into question again following a lackluster decision win over Manel Kape in Manchester.
With that, most have concluded that antics away from the cage were responsible for his release, and UFC 304 fight week certainly wasn't short on them. "The Punisher" most notably admitted to sucker-punching his opponent at the fighter hotel.
If that was among the major reasons for the UFC not re-signing Mokaev, another victor from the July 27 PPV doesn't think his fellow Brit has been treated fairly...
Aspinall On Mokaev's UFC Exit: 'It's A Shame'
During a recent interview with former boxing champion Carl Froch, Aspinall was asked for his take on the situation surrounding Mokaev, whom he's known since the flyweight was a youngster.
Like some in the MMA space, the interim heavyweight champ pointed to numerous big-name fighters who have had altercations and incidents outside the Octagon, suggesting it's "unfair" for Mokaev to be punished while others got away scot-free.
Muhammad Mokaev's a lad I've known since he was 12 years old. ... Him and his opponent (Kape) had a lot of beef beforehand; they were scrapping in the hotel before...and I heard some stories about kicking each other's hotel rooms when they're trying to sleep," Aspinall said. "The UFC kicked him out. They don't wanna re-sign him because of what's gone on.
I think it's unfair. ... This has happened before, all this beef in the hotel and at the weigh-ins, and all the rest of it," Aspinall continued. "It's not the first time, so I think it's a bit unfair on him to kick him out indefinitely. But at the end of the day, I'm not the boss of the UFC, so it's got nothing to do with me. ... I think it's a shame, but it's not really my call.
According to others, however, there's likely more to the story. One of Muhammad's flyweight peers, ex-title challenger Steve Erceg, also recently suggested that disrespectful behavior toward UFC staff likely played a part in the promotion's decision.
The saga looks far from over, with Mokaev repeatedly pleading his case on social media and vowing to return to the Octagon. "The Punisher's" most recent post regarding his status came while he attended this past weekend's UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.