Muhammad Mokaev dreams of bringing UFC to Manchester, his adopted hometown. After a successful start in MMA's top division, he has since dreamed of bringing UFC back home.

MUHAMMAD MOKAEV says it would be an honor to bring the UFC back home to Manchester.

Manchester has been home to the rising flyweight contender for over ten years, after he fled Russia with his father as refugee.

Manchester was once a popular port of call for premier promotion in mixed martial arts, but it hasn't hosted an event there in six years.

Mokaev (22 years old) hopes to change this in the next two-years. He plans to fulfill his dream of being the youngest champion in UFC history.

SunSport spoke with the three-time IMMAF Gold medallist, who said: "It is very possible. Because March 2024 is the deadline for me to be the youngest champion of UFC history.

"And in March, the UFC usually comes to the UK, right?" Maybe UFC Manchester will return then."

Mokaev would be happy to share a Manchester card he has with Tom Aspinall, a fellow surging Brit - whom he's been with for almost a decade.

He spoke out about the injured heavyweight contestant, saying: "A man such as Tom Aspinall can be a great example and a great model for British people, especially those born here."

"Tom is my biggest role model right now. Tom is someone I look up to. If he were to be the main card here, I would love fight on this card alongside him."

Mokaev could soon be the headlining act, given his popularity and early form in promotion.

In his two appearances in MMA's top league, The Punisher has made quite a splash.

Mokaev took the O2 Arena to London in March with a breathtaking 58 second submission of Cody Durden.

The Russian-born Brit won a decisive victory at UFC London over Charles Johnson, the former LFA men’s flyweight champion.

Mokaev stated that he feels good about his recent victory, particularly after completing three rounds in the cage during my octagon career.

"I wanted this. Interviews before the fight revealed that I wanted it because I had a long and successful amateur career.

"I believe I learned more from my three-round bout than I did from my one-round.

"It was fascinating for me. It was not for everyone, but it was interesting.

"Sometimes, I look at it back and I like to say, Hey, get up, move. What are you doing here? Why aren't you doing something?

"But in my cage, I'm young. I am 22 years old. I'm not 30 years old. My career is over. Let's do it. '"

Mokaev made the decision to not throw caution to Mokaev and pursue another sensational finish in order to avoid unnecessary risks.

He stated, "I could have finished him striking-wise. You could all see that I could have finished him."

"But I don’t want to take one punch. A risky punch. And get hurt. Maybe be out for a year. I have a greater goal than just beating him in the first round.

Jon Jones currently holds the record for the youngest UFC champion. It will not be easy to set the record, given the row of murderers in the flyweight division.

Manchester's adopted son believes it won't be long until he can get a chance at the 125lb belt.

He stated that he believes in flyweight and that there will be four fights. The title fight will be his. Two more fights are needed.

Publicity is the most important thing. "I need to get many people behind me, that is what the UFC wants to be seen."

Mokaev will not have trouble attracting interest when he enters the top-15 flyweight division, as a judged by a post-fight conversation with a fan

He stated that even though it was a boring three-round fight, people still talk about my fights.

"One guy said yesterday that your interview was boring.

"And I said, "My fight was boring. You shouldn't have switched anything on. Why should you watch my interview?

"But he's still turning on and tuning in to hear me. People tune in to watch you lose, see how you're going down, or see how you win.

"And people are interested [right now] in me."