Muhammad Mokaev will not compete at the upcoming Rousey-Carano event scheduled for May 16. According to reports, the withdrawal is due to visa-related problems that have prevented him from participating. The specific nature of the visa complications has not been disclosed. No replacement fighter has been announced at this time. This marks an unexpected setback for the card and for Mokaev's competition schedule.
Muhammad Mokaev has been forced off the May 16 Rousey-Carano card due to visa complications, leaving his scheduled bout without an opponent and the event short one matchup.
Mokaev, known as "The Punisher," enters 2026 as one of the most compelling unbeaten prospects in mixed martial arts. The 25-year-old England native trains out of KHK MMA and carries a perfect 13-0-0 professional record. Standing five-foot-seven with a 70-inch reach, the orthodox grappler has built his undefeated run on a suffocating wrestling-based game, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also generates consistent offensive output, landing 1.61 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy.
The specific nature of the visa difficulties has not been disclosed, and no replacement fighter has been announced to fill his spot on the card.
Why it matters
- Mokaev's removal disrupts what had been a notable booking on the Rousey-Carano event, one of the higher-profile cards on the near-term calendar.
- With no replacement named, the card loses a fighter whose undefeated record and grappling-heavy style typically draws significant attention from fans and divisional observers alike.
- The timeline for rescheduling Mokaev remains unclear, creating uncertainty around when the unbeaten prospect will next compete.
