The mixed martial arts world finds itself grappling with an uncomfortable controversy as UFC featherweight AJ Cunningham faces intense scrutiny over social media posts that appeared to express sympathy for extremist ideology.
The situation has prompted former UFC star Muhammad Mokaev to highlight what he sees as a glaring double standard in how the promotion handles athlete misconduct.
Cunningham, who carries an 11-5 professional record but remains winless through two UFC appearances, recently shared a Instagram video that drew immediate condemnation.
His posts included imagery from Interstate 70 featuring a n*zi symbol on a hillside, accompanied by cryptic messaging about leadership. “The sun will set. Only to rise again. A leader does not emerge from a conference table…,” Cunningham wrote.
When critics began questioning the disturbing nature of his posts, Cunningham’s response escalated tensions rather than defusing them. The Phoenix-born fighter, who trains in Arkansas, posted an Instagram video detailing what he would do if confronted about his views, including references to using weapons against those who challenged him.
Mokaev, who was released from the UFC despite an undefeated record in the promotion, took to social media with pointed commentary on the situation. The former flyweight contender drew attention to the apparent inconsistency in UFC’s enforcement of conduct standards, writing: “But Mokaev is bad guy. He fought in lobby.”
His reference alluded to a well-publicized altercation with Manel Kape that occurred in a hotel lobby, an incident that many believe contributed to the UFC’s decision not to renew his contract despite his perfect 7-0 record with the organization.
MMA analyst Luke Thomas captured the sentiment shared by many observers when he questioned the promotion’s priorities on social media. “Seems very weird and very bad UFC thinks open espousal of modern history’s most m*rderous ideology (and the real-world violence it explicitly advocates) isn’t disqualifying from doing business,” Thomas wrote.
The controversy has sparked broader discussions about the standards applied to UFC athletes. Critics have noted instances where the promotion released fighters for comparatively minor infractions, with one commentator pointing out that “UFC once cut a former world champion for tweeting a joke he heard in a sit-com.”
Cunningham’s situation carries additional complexity given his disclosed history of severe childhood trauma. Prior to his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, he revealed experiencing extreme abuse under a Neo-N*zi father.
“My name is AJ Cunningham, and this is my childhood story and how it was slightly different the most,” he explained in a video statement.
He described conditions of profound neglect and violence: “Me and my three brothers lived in a house, no carpet, very poor conditions. Oftentimes, we were left by ourselves. We were eating dog biscuits and dog food. My biological father was in the Aryan brotherhood.”
The abuse extended to forced PED use at a young age. “He shot us up with different types of ste**ids, different PEDs. He wanted to form killers as children in the sense of like an idea of a perfect team and right. Just sculpted it at a young age, and strong and scary,” Cunningham stated, detailing beatings that resulted in “bleeding, busted skulls.”
Despite this background, observers have questioned whether past trauma justifies or explains the recent social media activity, particularly given the graphic nature of his responses to criticism. Some have suggested the posts reveal deeper issues that may require professional intervention.
Cunningham’s path to the UFC was unconventional—he secured his contract by accepting a short-notice bout at a higher weight class after failing to earn a deal through the Contender Series. His promotional debut in March 2024 resulted in a TKO loss to Ludovit Klein, followed by a unanimous decision defeat to Su Young You earlier this year.
The 0-2 start in the organization makes his continued employment particularly notable given the promotion’s typical approach to athletes with losing records, especially when combined with conduct concerns.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the UFC has remained silent on Cunningham’s status with the organization.
