There are just three UFC PPVs left for 2024; with the promotion having just confirmed that the final numbered card of the year will include not one, but two world title fights.
As fans begin to digest the exciting news, UFC experts from around the world are already offering an early prediction as to what they think will happen when welterweight champion Belal Muhammad squares off against undefeated phenom, Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Two title fights announced for UFC 310, including Rakhmonov vs Muhammad
Over the weekend, Dana White announced that a few new fights had been added to the UFC 310 card in December, including two world title bouts.
Topping the final PPV of the year will be UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad vs undefeated wrecking ball Shavkat Rakhmonov, with Alexandre Pantoja set to defend his flyweight title in the co-main event against promotional newcomer Kai Asakura.
The main card for UFC 310 is now set to feature.
- Belal Muhammad vs Shavkat Rakhmonov
- Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Asakura
- Ciryl Gane vs Alexander Volkov
- Movsar Evloev vs Aljamain Sterling
- Vicente Luque vs Nick Diaz
Veterans Alan Jouban and Michael Chiesa offer early preview for UFC 310 title fights
Given how Dana White announced the main card for UFC 310 just a few hours before the start of UFC Vegas 98, it didn’t take long for popular veterans of the sport to share their early thoughts on the welterweight title fight.
This includes 17-7 Alan ‘Brahma’ Jouban and 17-7 Michael ‘Maverick’ Chiesa, who previewed the title clash headlining the final PPV of the year during the ESPN MMA event show.
“Belal has proven time and time again why he deserved the championship fight, he got the championship fight, and he deserves to be the champion now,” stated Jouban, who actually holds a win over Muhammad harking back to 2016.
“He looked phenomenal against Leon Edwards, [who] is one of the better grapplers in the division… But Belal Muhammad goes in there, dumps him on his head multiple times and outwrestled him – manhandled him.
“Shavkat Rakhmonov though, this guy does everything well and so this is going to be, I think, Belal’s toughest date… But I do think that Belal does have the grappling to get it done.”
Chiesa had a similar outlook on the newly announced welterweight title fight, with his argument being that whilst Rakhmonov is as dangerous of a fighter as any at 170lbs, Belal Muhammad’s recent form should certainly not be overlooked.
“It would be easy for people to discredit and dismiss Belal because when you look at Shavkat Rakhmonov, 18-0 with 10 submissions and 8 KO’s, [he is] the bogeyman of the division right now… But look at Belal’s strength of schedule [in his] last six fights.
“Demian Maia; who was ranked when he fought him, Wonderboy; who was ranked above the Top 10, Vicente Luque was ranked five when he fought him, Sean Brady; TKO, fought Gilbert Burns on short notice in a five-round fight, and then dethrones Leon Edwards in his own backyard.”
Muhammad will ride into UFC 310 with an outstanding 11-fight unbeaten streak that has seen his hand raised over some of the best welterweights in the world both past and present.
“Before people want to dismiss Belal Muhammad because of who he is fighting, just look at that strength of schedule,” advised the veteran UFC welterweight, before noting how he wouldn’t be surprised if we hear ‘And Still’ at the T-Mobile come December 7.
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“You got to remind yourself, this guy is the champion for a reason, and I would not be surprised if he took Shavkat’s 0.”
UFC 310 goes down live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, December 7.