UFC: Muhammad Mokaev eying UFC flyweight title shot with win over Alex Perez

Halfway through this interview, Muhammad Mokaev stopped to ask his own question.

"If the UFC don't put me in, who are they going to?"

Britain's Mokaev is referring to the next challenger to take on UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

At just 23 years old, Mokaev, who faces American Alex Perez in Las Vegas on Saturday, believes the stars are aligning in the flyweight division for him to face Brazilian Pantoja.

"Even Pantoja posted on his Instagram story: 'I need to fight somebody new. I've beaten everyone,'" Mokaev told BBC Sport.

"He's beaten some like twice, or three times - [Brandon] Moreno, [Brandon] Royval - he's beaten these guys and now what's the point of rematches?

"It motivates me. It motivates me more to finish Alex Perez, to stay focussed and don't play games."

Pantoja has beaten Moreno three times and Royval twice, while a fight between fellow top contenders Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau was cancelled in January after Kape missed weight.

Amir Albazi, who is third in the UFC flyweight rankings, is recovering from injury, while Royval, who beat Moreno on Saturday, has revealed he likely injured his medial collateral ligament (MCL) during that fight so could face time on the sidelines.

All these factors have opened the door for a potential title opportunity for Mokaev, who is eighth in the flyweight rankings and unbeaten during his 12-fight career, should he beat 31-year-old Perez at the UFC Apex on Saturday.

And according to Mokaev, the champion is open to the idea.

"I messaged Pantoja yesterday. I said after this fight, I'm ready to fight," said Mokaev.

"I messaged him because I used to train with him, I know him well. He said, 'We will talk after this fight'."

'I came as close as I could to Jones' record'

Mokaev has finished eight of his 11 wins as a professional

Since Mokaev made his UFC debut in 2022 he has won all five fights, finishing four of them by submission.

During his two years with the UFC, he has been open about his goal of wanting to become the youngest champion in the promotion's history, eclipsing Jon Jones' record.

Heavyweight champion Jones, 36, was 23 years and eight months old when he beat Mauricio Rua for the light-heavyweight title in 2011, with Mokaev being 23 years and seven months when he faces Perez on Saturday.

Victory would leave Mokaev with the difficult job of beating Jones' record with fewer than one month remaining.

The task is made more unlikely with Mokaev, who is Muslim, being unable to fight after 10 March for one month during Ramadan.

Mokaev says he "tried his best" to become the UFC's youngest champion, but matchmaking frustrations and injuries have likely prevented him reaching his goal.

Mokaev dislocated his shoulder in December 2022 and tore his MCL in March 2023.

"If UFC wanted to bring me as UFC champion, they would have done that earlier because I was asking for the top contenders since I got to the UFC," said Mokaev.

"But I never got matched up with anyone top except Tim Elliott. I've fought good guys but not the guys who could push me for the title.

"UFC chose to keep Jon Jones in the records. That was their choice, whatever. I tried my best.

"I am always grateful for whatever happens in my life, I'm in a good position, I cannot complain. I'll probably be second-youngest UFC champion. I got two big injuries, I still fought, I didn't take a year out. I tried my best, I got as close as I could and that's most important for me."