UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad disagrees with Shavkat Rakhmonov’s idea for an interim title fight while sidelined with an injury, but he can also see an upside.
Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) was set to defend his recently acquired title for the first time in the UFC 310 main event against undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, a toe infection forced the champ out of the Dec. 7 date at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
When the issue arose, Muhammad hoped to avoid a delay from action, but he says a doctor told him the infection was aggressive and needed immediate surgery. According to Muhammad, the doctor told him he caught the problem at the right time and, as a result, would be able to recover quickly.
While Muhammad is on the sideline, the UFC still needs to fill the void of a main event for UFC 310. Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) wants an interim title fight against another worthy challenger.
“I could see them trying to do something with Shavkat, but he’s calling for an interim title fight,” Muhammad said on “Remember the Show.” “It’s like, interim title fight? Bro, it’s six weeks, not six months that I’m off. But even for myself, if they wanted to do that just to make it a main event, I mean, I don’t really care about it if they want to make an interim title fight regardless, because they know who has the real belt. So for me, I know who my next opponent is going to be.”
While Muhammad can see the upside to having an interim title fight in his absence, he’s unsure if an opponent is available that makes sense. If Muhammad’s timeline for his return is accurate, he will be ready for a fight early in 2025, which would be Rakhmonov’s fight if he would be willing to wait a little longer.
Ian Machado Garry and Joaquin Buckley threw their names in the hat for the potential replacement fight. However, they have been booked to face each other in the main event of UFC on ESPN 63 in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 14.
Former champ Kamaru Usman is available, but he and Rakhmonov share the same training room. Jack Della Maddalena is also hovering around the top of the division, but rumors are that he’s not healthy.
From a preparation standpoint, Muhammad can understand why Rakhmonov would want to keep the same date, even if he’s torn on the idea of an interim title fight.
“It really doesn’t (make sense), but it’s one of those where it’s like – when you’re in the middle of camp, it’s hard, because we were like six weeks left,” Muhammad said. “So I can understand him, he’s like, ‘Bro, I want to fight.’ That’s the only part: him and Usman are like training partners, and you guys been in the gym with each other right now. Were you guys looking at each other? Watching each other? It’s just weird.”
The promotion could also go outside the division for a main event switch up at UFC 310. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev exchanged phone emojis on social media, essentially asking the UFC to make the fight happen.
“I wonder who they would do,” Muhammad said. “If it’s not Pereira and Ankalaev, I don’t see it being (Dricus) Du Plessis, I don’t see it being, I mean, (Zhang) Weili is always up there, but I don’t see them trying to throw that one in the mix. We’ll see what Hunter (Campbell) and Dana (White) do, right? They’re the best.”
