Shavkat Rakhmonov is set to find a new dance partner to collide with at UFC 310 after his welterweight title showdown with Belal Muhammad fell through.
After causing a sizable upset to outpoint Leon Edwards earlier this year, Belal Muhammad was forced to withdraw from his first title defense due to a foot injury.
In response to the devastating news, Shavkat Rakhmonov is desperately trying to retain his fight date on December 7, calling out former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
But now, Colby Covington, too, has shoehorned his name into the mix, despite losing a comprehensive unanimous decision to Edwards in his last title fight.
Colby Covington believes that Shavkat Rakhmonov will face Kamaru Usman at UFC 310
Covington claimed the UFC interim welterweight crown back in 2018, defeating Rafael Dos Anjos before getting knocked out in his title shot against Usman the following year.
Still, the controversial American remains a solid contender at 165 lbs, boasting victories over the likes of Tyron Woodley and Jorge Masvidal.
The 36-year-old, however, received plenty of backlash for his unsavory comments throughout the build-up to his clash with Edwards last year.
Covington’s outlandish behavior was, in fact, directed at Edwards’ father, who was tragically murdered in 2004.
And so, while he is undoubtedly buoyed by Donald Trump’s presidential victory, ‘Chaos’ may benefit from focusing more on getting the fans back on his side.
Nevertheless, despite expressing his desire to face Rakhmonov at UFC 310, Covington admits that he may have missed the boat on replacing Muhammad.
“I offered, I told the UFC that, you know, I was willing to step up to the plate,” he told Submission Radio. “And, you know, I would love to save the show and put on a good show for the fans.
“I was excited at the opportunity to step in there. But you know, it looks like they’re going a different route.
“They’re going to go with, potentially, the Usman and [Rakhmonov] fight and, you know, good on them.”
Colby Covington believes that Shavkat Rakhmonov is an easy fight
Since losing his title to Edwards, Usman has stepped up to middleweight in a bid to become a two-division champion.
And yet, following his majority decision defeat to Khamzat Chimaev last year, it would appear that he is now considering a return to his former division.
Covington, meanwhile, has been highly critical of Rakhmonov, claiming that the 30-year-old is yet to face a notable opponent.
And so, given his superior experience, the seasoned operator is confident that he would dominate the unbeaten contender.
“I can beat him pretty easily,” Covington added. “And I think it’s a favorable fight. And it’s a fight that I want in the future. Whether he wins or loses, you know, in December.”