The UFC is looking for a new main event lineup after reigning UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad was ruled out of the December 7 event, and two exciting welterweight contenders are already showing interest in stepping in.
Muhammad was all set to take on undefeated Kazakh contender Shavkat Rakhmonov in the headline bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but the 170-pound champion revealed via his Instagram page that he had contracted a bone infection in his foot.
Muhammad posted a video showing himself in a hospital bed, with an accompanying message that explained that he’s out of action for six weeks before he can return to training.
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It means that the main event spot for the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year remains uncertain, with Rakhmonov hoping to stay on the card. “Nomad” wished Muhammad well, and offered to face another contender in an interim title fight instead.
“Wishing Belal a quick recovery,” he posted to X.
“We’ll meet when you’re back at 100%. For now, I’m ready to take on any contender for the interim title at #UFC310.”
Wishing Belal a quick recovery. We’ll meet when you’re back at 100%. For now, I’m ready to take on any contender for the interim title at #UFC310
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) October 31, 2024
The UFC does have another title fight on the UFC 310 fight card, with Japanese MMA star and former Rizin bantamweight champion Kai Asakura set to challenge Alexandre Pantoja for the undisputed UFC flyweight title on his Octagon debut.
The UFC may opt to simply promote that fight to the headline spot, but the option of an interim welterweight title fight with Rakhmonov is certainly a possibility, with two of the division’s most exciting rising stars raising their hands and offering to step in.
Garry shared video of past post-fight pressers where he has spoken about a potential fight with Rakhmonov as he hinted that he’d be prepared to step in.
But Buckley also stated his case via an Instagram video, as he reacted to Garry’s press conference video.
“Nobody wants to see that fight,” he said of a potential Rakhmonov-Garry bout.
“People want to see knockouts. People want to see finishes, and that’s exactly what we’re gonna bring.
“Me vs. Shavkat. He’s got 18 finishes, 10 subs, eight knockouts. And your boy, I got 14 knockouts, and I just knocked out my last two ranked opponents. So what do you think I’m gonna do to this dude?
“UFC, this is the fight that you’ve gotta make. Like I told y’all, I’m coming to take the throne, and I ain’t playing.”
