Daniel Cormier had a cageside seat for UFC 310 and, apparently, the within scoop on the co-main occasion.
In accordance with Cormier, who was working the commentary desk for Saturday’s UFC occasion at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Rakhmonov might need been removed from 100% heading right into a pivotal welterweight conflict with Ian Machado Garry. Rakhmonov defeated Garry by unanimous choice, however Garry gave the unbeaten fighter the hardest check of his profession up to now.
In a UFC 310 response video, Cormier claims he was instructed that Rakhmonov was competing with a critical knee harm.
“If I’m Belal Muhammad, I’m really sort of blissful watching this struggle tonight as a result of Shavkat Rakhmonov didn’t appear like himself though I discovered after that he had an harm,” Cormier stated. “I believe he might need tore his MCL going into the struggle. Granted, with a torn ligament in your knee you’re not going to appear like the killer that you just appeared like in fights prior.”
MMA Preventing’s Mike Heck has reached out to Rakhmonov’s administration for remark.
Cormier introduced up Muhammad as a result of the welterweight champion was initially scheduled to defend in opposition to Rakhmonov in Saturday’s foremost occasion earlier than being compelled to withdraw on account of a bone an infection in his foot. After Rakhmonov’s win, he known as for Muhammad to enter the cage and the 2 engaged in a respectful faceoff.
If there’s any reality to Cormier’s declare, it might assist to clarify why Rakhmonov was unable to say himself together with his wrestling as he has in opposition to a number of of his previous opponents. Garry confirmed glorious takedown protection all through the struggle and refused to let Rakhmonov muscle him in opposition to the fence. Within the fifth spherical, Garry really obtained the higher of Rakhmonov on the bottom and threatened with a rear-naked choke.
Nevertheless, Rakhmonov did sufficient to earn 48-47 scores throughout the board.
“It was a very good struggle,” Cormier stated. “It picked up late. Machado Garry will look again on this and be very disillusioned on the means that he managed Spherical 1 and a pair of as a result of in Spherical 1 and a pair of, not a lot occurred in any respect, however the few issues that did occur was sufficient to offer Shavkat these rounds. Shavkat did a greater job in Spherical 4 getting takedowns, however in Spherical 5, Machado Garry was urgent, making him work, and nearly obtained a submission. That was thrilling.
“Once you get guys that know one another very well, there’s a hazard that the struggle might flip into one thing that you just sort of anticipate if blended martial arts, the place it’s nearly like a chess match and it’s not as enjoyable. That’s sort of what we obtained with these two tonight.”
