Kamaru Usman Open to Stepping in for Shavkhat Rakhmonov Fight Amid Belal Muhammad’s Withdrawal
A week has passed since welterweight champion Belal Muhammad announced he’d be withdrawing from UFC 310 due to a foot infection, leaving Shavkhat Rakhmonov’s opponent uncertain. With no final decision from UFC matchmakers, one possible scenario is a high-stakes matchup between Rakhmonov and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for an interim title at the December 7 pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Rakhmonov has pushed for the fight to go forward, while Usman, appearing on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo, showed willingness to accept the short-notice challenge. Though he hasn’t been formally approached by UFC officials, Usman spoke candidly on the situation for the first time, highlighting his readiness. “If the UFC calls, they know I’m crazy enough to step in there on short notice, and if we’ve got to do it, we’ve got to do it,” Usman remarked.
The 37-year-old former champion (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) has experience with last-minute fights. In 2020, he defended his title against Jorge Masvidal on six days’ notice, earning a unanimous decision victory. However, his more recent short-notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023 saw him fall in a close majority decision. Currently on a three-fight skid, Usman last fought at UFC 294 and hasn’t won since defending his title in 2021. Now, his potential return on December 7 would add another chapter to his storied career, as he remains open to taking on any challenge.