Flyweights Muhammad Mokaev and Alex Perez will face off in the first confirmed fight for the UFC’s debut card in Saudi Arabia on March 2.
Muhammad Mokaev and Alex Perez are set to clash. This flyweight showdown is the first confirmed fight for UFC’s debut card in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for March 2.
The news was confirmed by multiple sources close to the promotion. The first to break the news was Perez’s management team at Iridium Sports Agency. They took to social media, and the MMA world caught wind of it on Wednesday.
Mokaev is a name to watch. He’s one of the fastest rising stars on the UFC roster. The 23-year-old fighter from Dagestan, now based in England, is on a roll. He’s undefeated and looking to keep it that way when he steps back into the cage in March.
So far, he’s had an impressive 5-0 run in his UFC career. His recent victory over one-time title challenger Tim Elliott is a testament to his talent. But now, he’s got another challenge on his hands.
Enter Alex Perez. He’s a title fight veteran, and he’s itching to get back into the cage. His last appearance was in July 2022.
Perez has had a rough patch. After losing to future UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, he faced fight cancellations and health issues. These setbacks kept him from returning to action for over a year.
The fighter’s had back-to-back losses, including a title fight defeat to Deiveson Figueiredo in 2020. But he’s ready to bounce back. He’s focused on righting the ship when he faces Mokaev.
Their fight is a significant addition to the first UFC Saudi Arabia card. It’s part of the promotion’s expansion efforts in the Middle East. UFC’s growing presence in this region is undeniable, and this fight is a testament to that.