Muhammad Mokaev Says He Would Beat Joshua Van '10/10' and Quit If He Lost

Mokaev made the claim before his WOW 31 debut as he pushes for a route back to the UFC and the flyweight title.

Overview

Mokaev told interviewer Alvaro Colmenero that he could beat UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van “10 times out of 10” and that he would retire if he lost, comments published June 3 that highlight his public confidence.
The 25-year-old is set to fight Jorge Calvo in Madrid at WOW 31 this weekend, using the Spanish promotion as his immediate platform to regain visibility after leaving the UFC.
Mokaev was released from the UFC in 2024 despite a 7-0 run inside the promotion, and he has fought six times outside the UFC while trying to rebuild his standing.
He missed a higher-profile May booking to face Adriano Moraes on the MVP (Rousey vs Carano) card because of visa problems, a recent logistical setback that has complicated his path back to the UFC.
Joshua Van remains the reigning UFC flyweight champion after a late-2025 title win when Alexandre Pantoja suffered an in-fight injury and a May 2026 defense of the belt, so any Mokaev–Van match would depend on a UFC return and official matchmaking.