Muhammad Mokaev re-signing with BRAVE Combat Federation looks set to be a win-win for both parties, according to the man tasked with calling the returning star’s fights.
Phil Campbell is the seasoned fight night commentator for BRAVE CF, and knows Mokaev well from his first stint with the promotion. And, chatting with RG.org, the play-by-play man said that Mokaev could potentially open the door for the promotion to return the UK for first time since BRAVE CF 24 in London back in 2019.
“There’s only ever been one show in the UK, BRAVE CF 24, in London,” said Campbell.
“I believe that with the re-signing of Mo, that opens up an entirely different avenue to us in the north of England, with his connections to Manchester, his connections to Liverpool, with (coach and teammate) Dean Garnett.
“Not only will it help Mo, it will help BRAVE CF’s continued expansion into the European, and indeed the UK and Irish market. I’m very excited to see what happens moving forward.”
Mokaev’s departure from the UFC came under something of a cloud, with claims that the English fighter had been tricky to deal with behind the scenes. But Campbell said that’s not the Mokaev he knows, and said that his return is a huge win for the promotion.
“I know that many question marks have been raised about his attitude and his conduct,” he said.
“I think to say Mo is difficult is a bit of a misnomer. I have never experienced that in my time working with him, and have found him to be nothing but polite and humble.
“We forget that he’s just turned 24 years of age and he’s had a ridiculous spotlight thrust upon him. The weight of the MMA world has been on his shoulders and he’s still learning to cope with the pressures of being a world-renowned athlete.
“We’re talking about a four-time IMMAF gold medallist, a guy who essentially completed amateur MMA before signing with BRAVE, where he had an incredible run.
“I believe he is the most decorated amateur in the history of mixed martial arts, and I firmly believe that he can be one of the most decorated professionals in MMA, so the sky really is the limit.”
