Rumored Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Kamaru Usman title bout at UFC 310 ‘diminishes interim title’, says veteran
Kamaru Usman is rumored to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, but the one veteran finds an issue with the interim title being on the line.
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Kamaru Usman to potentially fight Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 (via Imago)
UFC 310 is currently struggling to get their main event bout after newly crowned champion Belal Muhammad pulled out. Muhammad has an injury that will keep him out for almost six weeks, and now Shavkat Rakhmonov needs another opponent. According to reports, #2 ranked welterweight Kamaru Usman might be the one to come as a replacement. However, there is a catch.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is undefeated in UFC and was a fan favorite to win against Muhammad and capture the welterweight belt. With Usman potentially coming as a replacement, there were rumors about an interim welterweight title on the line. UFC veteran Matt Brown recently talked about the situation and blasted the idea of an interim championship.
I think we all know at least it’s not a title… They usually do that because they need to sell the pay-per-view and put a title on it, right?… It unfortunately kind of diminishes what an interim title is. This one probably got to be one of the worst instances we’ve seen, right?
Matt Brown via MMA Fighting
Interim championships are generally made when the champion is out for a long time, often due to an injury. For example, heavyweight champion Jon Jones tore his pec muscles and was out for an extended period. In the meantime, UFC held an interim heavyweight championship, which Tom Aspinall won at UFC 295.
Matt Brown isn't a fan of an interim title at welterweight with Belal Muhammad sidelined for #UFC310:
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 5, 2024
"I think we all know at least it’s not a title. … They usually do that because they need to sell the pay-per-view and put a title on it, right?"
(? @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/jVZVO8Nun2
However, in this case, Belal Muhammad’s recovery period is just six weeks, and there is no need for an interim belt. The card already has a title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura, which could be promoted as the main event. On the other hand, Usman is a big name and will certainly bring a huge hype with him.
Kamaru Usman’s ideal comeback
Kamaru Usman dominated the UFC welterweight division with five title defenses and an impressive 15-fight winning streak. He defeated prominent competitors such as Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns. However, his reign came to an end with a surprising head-kick knockout defeat to Leon Edwards at UFC 278.
In their rematch, Edwards won by decision at UFC 286, Usman’s first back-to-back losses and an indicator of his declining authority. It was followed by another loss against Khamzat Chimaev. Now, the fighter has an opportunity to reclaim his lost glory. In a recent video, UFC legend Michael Bisping talked about the same in detail.
This man’s name is still a hot property. Shavkat vs. Usman and all of a sudden, Usman at 37 years old…he goes up against Belal Muhammad…an incredible way for Kamaru Usman to end his career…that sounds like a fairytale.
Michael Bisping via his YouTube channel
Earlier this year, Usman claimed that he’s still the boogeyman of the UFC welterweight division and will definitely make a comeback. Despite his losses, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ is still one of the most well-rounded fighters on the roster. It won’t be surprising to see the fighter beat Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in a potential interim title bout.
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Ameetosh Dash
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