Jorden Curran
What happens when a fighter establishes himself as the best in his division, only to find that his greatest obstacle is one of the sport’s all-time talents?
That question defined the rivalry between Reo Yamaguchi and Muhammad Mokaev, who faced each other three times across the 2018–2019 IMMAF competition schedule.
After qualifying for Team Japan in 2017 as one of the nation’s emerging amateur prospects, Yamaguchi made his IMMAF debut at the Oceania Open Championships, where he secured the gold medal in the bantamweight division, setting the stage for his progression to the 2018 IMMAF Junior World Championships.
Yamaguchi entered the tournament with a 9–1 amateur record and produced three strong victories over fellow world prospects to reach the bantamweight final, within touching distance of the world title. Waiting on the opposite side of the bracket was Muhammad Mokaev (10–0), a highly regarded prodigy from the UK national scene, making his international debut on the IMMAF platform. Mokaev claimed a unanimous decision victory in the final, securing the junior bantamweight world title. Far from over, the matchup quickly became one of the most recognisable finals pairings in the IMMAF talent pool.
Their journeys continued at the 2019 IMMAF European Open Championships. Once again, Yamaguchi (now 11-2) fought his way through the bracket to reach the gold medal bout. Once again, Mokaev (14-0) stood across from him, this time as the reigning junior world champion. Mokaev controlled the contest to earn another unanimous decision victory, becoming both World and European champion at 135lbs.
By this point, both athletes had clearly separated themselves from the rest of the junior bantamweight field. Yamaguchi’s consistency and repeated runs to championship deciding bouts cemented his status as a world-class contender, while Mokaev’s unbeaten record and composure on the biggest stage continued to draw attention. Whether Yamaguchi could overcome his greatest rival became one of the most discussed topics within IMMAF.
Their final meeting came at the 2019 IMMAF World Championships. What felt like years of the duo circling one another was set to conclude exactly twelve months after their first encounter. Yamaguchi at 13-3 against the 20-0 undefeated champion. With the junior bantamweight world title once again on the line, Mokaev remained composed and decisive, securing victory to retain his crown and close the trilogy.
Since 2019, both athletes have embarked on their professional MMA careers. At 25 years old Mokaev is an undefeated UFC veteran and current Brave CF title holder, widely regarded as the world’s top flyweight. Meanwhile, Yamaguchi, 26, has risen through the ranks of Japan’s iconic Pancrase organisation and fights for number-one contender status for the bantamweight title, at Pancrase 361 on March 14.
Three meetings, three championship finals, and two athletes who both embodied and spotlighted the level and prestige of the IMMAF junior pathway. Their rivalry remains a historic benchmark for sustained excellence at the highest level of amateur MMA.
