UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov has no plans to reverse course on his previously scheduled appearance at UFC 310 next month.
Shavkat Rakhmonov was supposed to face UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the UFC 310 headliner next month. But, those plans were foiled after Muhammad announced his withdrawal from the fight due to a bone infection in his foot.
Muhammad, who captured the title at UFC 304 over Leon Edwards, is firmly against an interim title booking at UFC 310. He’s targeting a return to physical activity in six weeks.
In the meantime, Rakhmonov wants to fight next month instead of waiting for Muhammad to be fully recovered from his ailment. In an attempt to stay on the card, Rakhmonov has a big name in mind to step up and fight him at UFC 310.
Shavkat Rakhmonov calls out Kamaru Usman for UFC 310 short-notice fight
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Rakhmonov called out Kamaru Usman for UFC 310.
“I believe there is a worthy opponent available. I’m ready to save the card, too if it’s for the interim title. I believe [Kamaru] Usman is the worthy opponent who’s also probably ready to jump in and face him,” Rakhmonov said. (h/t BJPenn)
Rakhmonov’s manager and translator then told Ariel Helwani that they’re in ongoing talks with the UFC to remain on the year’s pay-per-view finale. As of this writing, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura remains the only scheduled championship fight on the card after Muhammad’s withdrawal.
Ian Machado Garry was another name in the mix to replace Muhammad, but he’s scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa.
Kamaru Usman looks to snap three-fight skid in targeted welterweight return
Usman hasn’t fought since a middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 last year. He took the fight on weeks’ notice after Paulo Costa’s withdrawal from the matchup.
Usman lost the UFC welterweight title by head-kick knockout against Edwards at UFC 278. Edwards won their rematch just months later at UFC 286 in London.
Rakhmonov earned the title shot after a destructive run through the UFC welterweight division. He’s finished all 18 of his wins inside the distance, including his most recent submission against Stephen Thompson at UFC 296.
During his UFC tenure, Rakhmonov has defeated the likes of Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Alex Oliveira. Before signing with the UFC in 2020, he won the M-1 Global welterweight championship.
As of this writing, Usman hasn’t responded to Rakhmonov’s callout ahead of UFC 310. Only a few weeks ahead of the event, things will have to move quickly to re-book Rakhmonov for the year’s final pay-per-view.