Why Usman Declined the Rakhmonov Fight
UFC 310 in Las Vegas is fast approaching, but the fight card still lacks a main event after welterweight champion Belal Muhammad withdrew due to an infection. There were talks of a last-minute matchup between former champ Kamaru Usman and undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, Usman recently explained why a December fight would be too short notice for him.
“To be honest, it’s a fight that I’ve looked at, and I know it’s definitely a very, very winnable fight,” Usman said on Pound 4 Pound. “And I know that I can, of all people, go out there and expose what hasn’t been exposed in a young, hungry, streaky guy in Shavkat Rakhmonov.”
Although Usman sees Rakhmonov as a skilled and talented fighter, he hinted that there are vulnerabilities he could exploit, but he’d prefer a camp before entertaining that particular matchup.
December Too Soon
“He’s very talented, he’s very, very good,” Usman continued. “But I do see the holes, and I think that I can exploit that when the time is right. But December 7 might be a little too early for that time.”
With Muhammad estimating a six-week recovery and rejecting the need for an interim title, UFC matchmakers are left scrambling to fill the main event spot at UFC 310. Fans are still eager to see who might headline, but for now, Usman’s short notice decision leaves the matchup up in the air.
Perhaps the issue lies deeper. Usman is currently riding a three-fight skid, with two loses to former welterweight champion Leon Edwards, and Kamaru Usman. The Nigerian Nightmare stepped off the couch to fight Chimaev to save UFC 294, so fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov on a dimes notice wouldn’t be the brightest idea.
With that said, do you think we witness Kamaru Usman and Shavkat Rakhmonov fight? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
