Belal Muhammad doesn’t consider an interim title combat is sensible for Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 following the welterweight champ’s withdrawal, however he’d be OK with it if the UFC goes in that course.
“Keep in mind the Title” was set to defend his title for the primary time towards the undefeated Rakhmonov in the principle occasion of the Dec. 7 pay-per-view occasion, however a bone an infection on his toe scratched Muhammad from the bout. Muhammad was requested on his podcast with Jason Anik what he thinks the promotion will do to fill that vacant slot, and whether or not it might be a combat between Rakhmonov and former champion Kamaru Usman.
“I can see them attempting to do one thing with Shavkat,” Muhammad stated on his podcast. “He’s calling for an interim title combat. Interim title combat, bro? It’s six weeks, not six months that I’m off. However even for myself, if they simply need to try this simply to make it a principal occasion, I don’t actually care about it in the event that they need to make an interim title combat, regardless as a result of they know who has the true belt.
“So for me, I do know who my subsequent opponent goes to be. If he needs to attend, it’s going to be us. If it’s going to finish up being him, the one person who is sensible now could be Kamaru since Buckley and Garry are out… and I believe [Jack Della Maddalena] is injured, so there’s actually no one else on the market. … It actually doesn’t [make sense], but it surely’s a kind of — while you’re in the course of camp, it’s laborious, and while you’re like six weeks left, you’re locked in. So I can perceive it for him that he’s like, ‘Bro, I need to combat.’”
A number of individuals with information of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Preventing that the UFC is actively trying to find a brand new principal occasion, however as of now, nothing is ready and “negotiations are ongoing.”
The information of Muhammad’s harm was a tricky one for the brand new champ, and the MMA neighborhood because the combat between Muhammad and Rakhmonov was an anticipated one. Rakhmonov has completed all 18 of his opponents, whereas Muhammad is unbeaten in 11 fights, culminating with a championship win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July.
Muhammad additionally revealed extra particulars about why the an infection unfold the best way that it did.
“They open it up and he’s like, ‘Bro, you had a damaged toe, that’s what triggered the an infection to hit the bone a lot sooner,’” Muhammad stated. “He was capable of repair the toe however the an infection remains to be in there and [I] should be on antibiotics for the subsequent six weeks. And I’m shocked, I’m like, ‘Bro, are you kidding me proper now?’ It was heartbreaking.”