Cryptocurrency is all the rage nowadays and the UFC became the first mixed martial arts promotion to partner with a cryptocurrency platform in 2021. However, a fighter on the roster recently urged fans not to use the platform for crypto transactions.
Russian-born English fighter Muhammad Mokaev called out Crypto.com for ‘robbing’ people and advised fans against using the platform on Twitter.
He tweeted:
“Don’t ever use @cryptocom! They’re robbing people and if you have money there take it out! [thumbs down emoji x3]”
Check out his tweet below:
Upon being reminded by a fan that Crypto.com was the official fight kit sponsor of the promotion he’s signed to, Mokaev only chose to elaborate on his reasons for the original tweet. He claimed that the platform targeted Russians and locked their accounts and balances.
“They robbing people , basically if you’re holding Russian citizenship they’re locking your account and refusing to give money back.”
He also defended the Russian populace and asked not to be generalized by the actions of the government.
“It’s not good thing, what have innocent people done? Then all Israel should be locked if we talk about equal stuff”
In another reply, Mokaev refused to back down or delete his tweet despite the UFC’s partnership with Crypto.com reasoning with fans that he was in the right.
Francis Ngannou explains why he turned down the UFC
Francis Ngannou and the UFC failed to agree on the terms of a contract extension and the heavyweight champion was released with his title put on the line at UFC 285 between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.
Ngannou spoke to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour and revealed the reasons behind him leaving the promotion. He cited the lack of freedom and the complete handover of rights to the company as key points that influenced his decision.
“In that contract, I’m not free. I’m not an independent contractor. I have no rights. I hand over all the power to you guys. I’ve seen in the past how you guys can utilize your power against me, and I don’t want that. I know that I did everything right. I don’t have any regrets. I wouldn’t do anything different if I had to do it again.”
The UFC’s refusal to let ‘The Predator’ box also factored in.
“They didn’t want anything to do with boxing. They were like, if, and only if, and in good faith, and I’m like, I’m not betting on that.”
Check out Francis Ngannou’s complete interview with Ariel Helwani on YouTube: