Highly anticipated to replace Belal Muhammad against Shavkat Rakhmonov for UFC 310, Kamaru Usman makes a decision for the fight.
With less than a month to go until the event, UFC 310 still has no main event ! Indeed, initially, Belal Muhammad had to defend his -77kg champion title against Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, the champion had to withdraw, the fault of an infection in his right foot. Which currently leaves Shavkat Rakhmonov without an opponent. Among those who had volunteered to take the Kazakh in short notice with an interim title at stake, we could find Kamaru Usman. However, no announcement has yet been made by the UFC. In his podcast titled « Pound 4 Pound »the Nigerian says whether or not the fight will take place:
« To be honest, this is a fight that I have watched and I know that it is definitely a winnable fight and I know that I, of all people, can go in there and reveal what has not been revealed at a young, hungry, fit guy like Shavkat Rakhmonov. He's very talented and very, very good, but I see some holes and I think I can exploit them when the time is right, but December 7 might be a little too early for that time.”
Fewer and fewer candidates
While a source announced as recently as this Wednesday that the fight was in preparation, Kamaru Usman came to extinguish all hope. Once a while, 'The Nigerian Nigthmare' no longer really seems that way. This can be understood, because he still has three consecutive defeats. His last one was in a fight taken only 10 days in advance against Khamzat Chimaev. The former champion finally seems to want to benefit from complete preparation before his next fight.
But this announcement once again eliminates a candidate for Shavkat Rakhmonov, who sees his chances of remaining on the UFC 310 card continue to diminish. Indeed, in addition to Kamaru Usman, Ian Garry and Joaquim Buckley had also expressed an interest in facing 'Nomad'. But that ultimately won't happen, because the two fighters will face each other on December 15 in Florida. However, Colby Covington is also up to face Shavkat Rakhmonov. The latter is too, but does the American really deserve it? He remains on one defeat against former champion Leon Edwards, and has already lost three titles shots. The Kazakh wants to fight for an interim title, implying that the winner will face champion Belal Muhammad next. It's hard to imagine the UFC giving Colby Covington this opportunity.
Do you understand Kamaru Usman's choice to ultimately refuse this opportunity?
