An old saying reads, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” The solitary basis for bringing that to light is precisely because it depicts the journey of Muhammad Mokaev, a 23-year-old prospect hailing from Dagestan.
“The Punisher” came to the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a track record that commanded reverence. Part of the intrigue had to do with the glow of past accomplishments, including a stellar 23-0 amateur record and two International Mixed Martial Arts Federation titles. He was also undefeated in six professional fights before he signed with the world’s premier MMA organization.