UFC: Muhammad Mokaev earns decision win over Alex Perez and calls for flyweight title shot

Britain's Muhammad Mokaev beat Alex Perez by unanimous decision in Las Vegas to move closer to a UFC flyweight title opportunity.

Mokaev, 23, out-struck American Perez, 31, and landed more takedowns over three rounds at the UFC Apex.

Following the bout, Mokaev called for a title fight against Brazilian champion Alexandre Pantoja.

"I'm 6-0 in the UFC, four finishes. [UFC] 301, 10 weeks, I'm ready to fight for the belt," said Mokaev.

Mokaev knew heading into the fight that a convincing victory would elevate him into title contention, and while he did not get the finish he had predicted, the triumph over former title challenger Perez represents the most notable win yet of his unbeaten 13-fight career.

Pantoja, 33, has beaten top contenders Brandon Moreno three times and Brandon Royval twice, while a fight between sixth-ranked flyweight Manel Kape and Matheus Nicolau, ranked fifth, 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 last week, 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, with Mokaev, ranked eighth and Perez, ranked seventh, looking to take advantage.

Mokaev improved his UFC record to six fights and six wins

Mokaev's first three takedown attempts were stopped by Perez but he secured the fourth and ended the opening round in a dominant position on the ground, delivering a number of punches.

Perez fought back in the second round, showing excellent takedown defence while landing a leg kick which stumbled Mokaev, with his corner sensing victory could be theirs if Perez could dominate in the final five minutes.

But Mokaev never looked in any danger, and although he never appeared to seriously trouble Perez, the statistics showed the Briton out-struck him 47-30 while landing three unanswered takedowns.

Following the fight, Mokaev revealed he had felt unwell that morning which he said hampered performance in the octagon.

"To be honest I was very sick this morning. But I have the best team in the world," said Mokaev.

If Mokaev is granted his wish of fighting Pantoja at UFC 301, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 4 May, he will have the chance of becoming Britain's third current UFC champion alongside welterweight title holder Leon Edwards and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

On the undercard, fellow Briton Christian Leroy Duncan stopped Claudio Ribeiro in the second round of their middleweight contest.

Duncan, 28, dominated in the stand-up, landing an array of kicks and elbows, before finishing the fight on the ground following a series of unanswered punches.

The win was Duncan's second in a row in the UFC and ninth of his 10-fight professional career.