A surprising matchup may be on the horizon for the UFC’s new grappling division.

Rising flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev revealed that he has been offered a championship bout against reigning bantamweight titleholder Mikey Musumeci.

The 25-year-old shared the news publicly, posting that the promotion approached him about competing for the UFC BJJ belt.
Rather than quietly negotiating, Mokaev took the idea straight to fans:

I have been offered to compete against Mikey Musumeci for the UFC BJJ belt.
What do you think guys?

The message immediately sparked discussion because it framed the opportunity not as a one-off grappling match, but as a direct title shot.
It would also mark Mokaev’s first appearance under the UFC banner since his release in 2024, potentially opening a path back into the organization through its specialist submission-grappling league.

Mokaev built his reputation in MMA on relentless wrestling pressure, positional control, and scrambling ability.
Musumeci, by contrast, is widely considered one of the most technical submission specialists in modern no-gi BJJ.

Musumeci has become the face of the promotion’s grappling branch since capturing the inaugural bantamweight championship in 2025 with a heel hook victory.
He later defended the belt with another leg-lock finish and is currently scheduled to put the title on the line again at UFC BJJ 5 against Shay Montague.

For Mokaev, a win over one of grappling’s most decorated champions would not only secure a title, but could also repair his relationship with the promotion and re-establish him within the UFC ecosystem – albeit through a different rule set than his original flyweight run.

I have been offered to compete against Mikey Mussumeci for the UFC BJJ belt

What do you think guys? 🙂

— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) February 9, 2026

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