MMA star Muhammad Mokaev has called on the British government to introduce martial arts into schools to help fight knife crime.
Mokaev emigrated from Russia to England in 2012 at the age of just 12 – learning the language from scratch.
Having already trained in freestyle back in Dagestan, Mokaev joined MMA gyms to help him meet friends.
During his undefeated championship-winning amateur career – the former UFC star urged Prince Harry to introduce martial arts into schools.
He said at the time: “In the UK there’s a lot of situations with knives and crime, I think MMA can stop this.
“Get these guys to the gym, get them No1 contenders, monthly wages, please Prince Harry, sort this out.”
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And Mokaev – now residing in Bahrain with his wife – is still passionate about his proposal and wants government backing.
He told SunSport: “One hundred per cent, I think in UK they should do it to at least support the athletes.
“I think BJJ wrestling, something like mixed martial arts should start from the youth so they understand the power.
“And once you believe in your power, you don’t need to prove to anyone. You’re already mentally strong and you’re not gonna use this as a bullying method.”
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Mokaev moved to England after fleeing Dagestan in a ferry following the passing of his mum, hiding inside a car with no money and just a bag of clothes.
His family got to Liverpool where he lived off £5 a day before being allocated a home in Wigan – where he trained under UFC champ Tom Aspinall.
Mokaev dominated the amateur MMA scene – winning world titles representing Britain – before turning professional in 2020.
But he was already amidst his greatest fight of all – against the Home Office – who tried to deport him.
Mokaev, now a British national, revealed: “The way I’ve got my passport, it was the hard way.
“In 2012 we came, in 2017 the Home Office went to deport us and in 2021, I received my first passport.
“It was the hard way but I wanted to do something for the country that no other refugees do, the youngest fighter undefeated and stuff like this.
“So I would say to all immigrants, when you’re coming to the country, stand out, it doesn’t have to be in sport, it can be in education, medical.
“Just something to give back to the country and the country will support you back 100 per cent.
In the UK there’s a lot of situations with knives and crime, I think MMA can stop this.
Muhammad Mokaev
“I never faced any racism towards me. I’ve lived in this country since 2012, so towards me I’ve never felt anything like this because I was a hard working man and I earned myself everything.”
Mokaev joined the UFC in 2022 and looked set for a flyweight title shot before he was brutally cut last year by the promotion – who chose not to extend his deal.
UFC boss Dana White put the decision down to “a lot of issues with him behind the scenes”, including a brawl with opponent Manuel Kape before their fight.
So Mokaev returned back Bahrain-based promotion Brave, funded by Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who offered TRIPLE his UFC deal.
Mokaev, who fights Irishman Gerard Burns at Brave 100 live on talkSPORT on Friday, revealed: “The first one or two days, I just couldn’t believe.
“I was fighting at 4am, it was 6am and my friend said, ‘Hey, you cut from UFC. I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ I didn’t believe it.
“It was a little bit stressful and the same time I was believing and sometimes I wasn’t believing.
“And then flew back to Bahrain, sat down with the prince of Bahrain and Sheikh Khalid said, ‘Don’t worry, whatever you need, you don’t need any contract with us. You just fight.’
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“He’s asking me how much I’m getting paid from UFC. So I told him and he said, ‘You’re gonna get three times more!’”
