Shavkat Rakhmonov is willing to save UFC 310, preferably by fighting for the interim welterweight title.
Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was scheduled to challenge champion Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the Dec. 7 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but Muhammad was forced out due to a bone infection in his foot.
Having not competed since submitting Stephen Thompson this past December at UFC 296, undefeated Rakhmonov is eager for his title opportunity. He suggested an interim welterweight title fight vs. former champ Kamaru Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC).
“I believe there are worthy opponents available,” Rakhmonov said through an interpreter on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I’m ready to save the card too if it’s for the interim belt. I believe Usman is a worthy opponent who’s going to be ready to jump in to face me.”
Rakhmonov’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, revealed that the UFC is currently working on finding him an opponent for UFC 310.
“Right now, negotiations are going on,” Abdrakhmanov said. “Obviously there’s talking. I don’t know if they are talking to someone else, but I’m sure they offered it to Kamaru, too.”
Muhammad dismissed the idea of an interim title, claiming that he only needs six weeks to heal. Rakhmonov expects Muhammad to be out for longer than that and thinks winning the interim belt would only make their fight bigger.
“We don’t know when Belal is going to be back,” Rakhmonov said. “These kind of injuries, infections, they might say it’s six weeks, but look at JDM (Jack Della Maddalena). It took him a lot longer. It’s good for Belal, too, because it’s going to make the fight bigger. It’s going to be champ vs. champ, so whenever Belal is ready, after I secure the interim title, I’m going to fight him.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.