UFC Fighter Muhammad Mokaev has been living in UK since he arrived there as a refugee aged 12. The 5-0 Fighter recently asked to have his nationality changed on the UFC roster – UFC previously assigned him the Russian flag.
But Mokaev’s English residency meant he was also exposed to the domestic news cycle – and in it something particularly disturbing took place. A West Ham United player named Kurt Zouma was caught in a video abusing an animal.
Zouma was videoed kicking his cat across the floor like a football.
??|BREAKING: Video obtained by The Sun shows West Ham United star Kurt Zouma repeatedly kicking his cat across the floor like a football ??[GRAPHIC] pic.twitter.com/Bq2oH6Eaiz
— Politics UK  (@PoliticsForUK) February 7, 2022
Mokaev was disturbed – along with the majority of the British public over the mistreatment of the animal.
Would love to give him slap ? so he looks innocent in front of me like cat does ? https://t.co/5IggVDLxzr
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) February 8, 2022
West Ham have since released a statement condemning the actions of their centre-back:
“West Ham United unreservedly condemns the actions of Kurt Zouma in the video that has circulated.”
“We have spoken to Kurt and will be dealing with the matter internally, but we would like to make it clear that we in no way condone cruelty towards animals.”
Zouma has also since faced the music, claiming the footage was an “isolated incident” that he now deeply regrets.