Despite heavy links to a short-notice title fight next month at UFC 310, Kamaru Usman has claimed a December return against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov may come too soon for him.
Usman, a former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter under the banner of the promotion, has been out of action since making an impromptu middleweight walk against the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev a year ago on short-notice
Still retaining the number two rank at 170lbs despite riding a two-fight losing run against former champion, Leon Edwards – Usman was pushed into title contention in an interim title affair with Rakhmonov, with current titleholder, Belal Muhammad withdrawing from the UFC 310 headliner citing a bone infection in his foot.
Kamaru Usman pours cold water on UFC 310 title fight return
And welcoming the chance to fight the Auchi native on short-notice, Rakhmonov confirmed plans to remain on the card in an interim title, however, this weekend Usman has claimed that a potential December landing against the unbeaten finisher will likely come too soon for him.
You see where I’m at – I’m getting some work in, I’m getting ready if I get that call [from the UFC],” Kamaru Usman said on Pound-4-pound podcast. “But to be honest, it’s a fight that I’ve looked at and I know it’s definitely a very winnable fight. I know that I can, of all people, go out there and expose what hasn’t been exposed in a young, hot streaky guy in Shavkat Rakhmonov.
“He’s very talented, he’s very good but I do see the holes and I think that I can exploit that when that time is right… But December 7th might be a little too early for that time.”