Budding flyweight star and top prospect Muhammad Mokaev is set to fight for the third time in 2022 at UFC 280.
Mokaev (7-0, 1NC) will face Canada’s Malcolm Gordon (14-5) at the event in Abu Dhabi on October 22. Both fighters confirmed the match-up on social media following an initial report by ESPN on Monday.
A 22-year old British citizen born in Dagestan, Mokaev made his octagon debut at UFC London back in March, steamrolling Cody Durden. He returned in July, again at the O2 Arena in London, England, this time winning a unanimous decision against former LFA champion Charles Johnson.
In addition to his professional career, Mokaev had an unparalleled run as an amateur, winning multiple IMMAF titles, and posting an undefeated record of 22-0.
Gordon will enter the match-up off the strength of back-to-back wins over Denys Bondar and Francisco Figueiredo. Overall, he’s 2-2 through four fights in the UFC, and has held multiple regional titles over the years.
UFC 280 will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE on October 22, 2022. A lightweight title fight featuring Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev is expected to headline the event. The card is also the expected landing spot for the bantamweight championship bout between Aljamain Sterling and TJ Dillashaw.
The following fights have been reported for the card thus far:
- Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev – for the vacant UFC lightweight championship
- Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for the UFC bantamweight championship
- Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot
- Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady
- Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Amanda Lemos
- Zubaira Tukhugov vs. Lucas Almeida
- Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot
- Makhmud Muradov vs. Caio Borralho
- Muhammad Mokaev vs. Malcolm Gordon
