The big UFC event of the year was set for an epic welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov. But Belal had to drop out after a painful bone infection left his toe too swollen to compete.
Shavkat, eager to stay on the December 7 card, let everyone know he’s ready to fight someone else. Now, UFC organizers are scrambling to find him a new opponent, keeping fans excited to see who will step up to face him.
‘Shut Up!’ Kamaru Usman Defends Himself Against UFC 310 Backlash
Kamaru Usman had considered stepping in to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov, much like he did for Khamzat Chimaev last year. However, he later decided it wasn’t the right time, explaining that the Las Vegas fight came up “too soon” for him to be fully ready.
Some fans didn’t take kindly to his decision, and the criticism started pouring in. The backlash grew so loud that Usman felt the need to respond directly during an episode of his podcast, Pound 4 Pound, with Henry Cejudo.
On the show, Usman didn’t hold back, making it clear what he thought about the harsh comments.
“I’m seeing online people going, ‘Oh, are you scared? You ducked him. You scared?’
“What?! This is the same sentiment that I feel like people are doing to Jon Jones. When fans of a fighter don’t get their desired wish that they want, ‘That’s the fight I want’, then it’s like, ‘Oh, that guy must be scared because he didn’t take the fight’. Guys, shut up. Shut up!
“‘Oh, he’s scared’. Yeah, okay. World champion, I’ve defended belts time and time again. ‘Oh, he’s scared’. Shut up! Just ‘cause you didn’t get what you wanted.
“Guess what? It’s like your mom telling you, ‘No, you can’t have that today. You can’t have that toy, shut your mouth’.
“Instead, we’ve got a banging fight. We’ve got Shavkat Rakhmonov taking on Ian Garry.”
Kamaru Usman hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since his majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023, extending his losing streak to three. Before that, he suffered two defeats to Leon Edwards.
At 37 years old, Usman’s career might be nearing its end, but he’s still ranked #2 in the welterweight division, and with one more win, he could get another shot at the title he once held for three years.
While a fourth fight with Edwards doesn’t seem likely, Usman has other options. He could face rising stars like Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena, or the loser of the Rakhmonov vs Garry matchup.
No matter what happens, Usman isn’t ready to call it quits yet, and fans can expect to see him back in the Octagon sometime in 2025.
