Shavkat Rakhmonov recently took aim at Kamaru Usman for attempting to insert himself into the UFC welterweight title picture. Despite never explicitly calling for a title shot, Usman has engaged in verbal sparring with current champion Belal Muhammad. This exchange led Muhammad to express his willingness to defend his title against either Rakhmonov or Usman in December. However, Rakhmonov, who boasts an undefeated record of 18-0 in MMA and a 6-0 UFC record, firmly believes that he is the rightful next contender. He has boldly asserted that Usman has no place in the title conversation.
Kamaru Usman, with a professional record of 20-4 in MMA and 15-3 in the UFC, has faced a series of setbacks in his recent fights. Having suffered three consecutive losses – two against Leon Edwards in title fights and a short-notice bout against Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight – Usman’s credibility as a title contender has been called into question by Rakhmonov. In expressing his disbelief at Usman’s audacity to seek a title shot following his string of defeats, Rakhmonov conveyed his reservations about the former champion’s current standing in the division.
Should Rakhmonov succeed in dethroning Belal Muhammad and claim the welterweight title, he envisions two prominent contenders vying for title shots – none of whom include Usman. Rakhmonov highlighted the presence of Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Garry as formidable competitors in the division who are on the cusp of securing a shot at the championship. By excluding Usman from his list of top contenders, Rakhmonov emphasized the lack of deserving candidates, in his view, within the welterweight division.
Rakhmonov’s Final Thoughts
In a scathing rebuke of Kamaru Usman’s ambitions to reclaim the welterweight title, Shavkat Rakhmonov articulated his firm stance on the matter. Citing Usman’s recent defeats and questioning the validity of his title aspirations, Rakhmonov expressed his disappointment in the former champion’s perceived entitlement. As Rakhmonov prepares to face Belal Muhammad in what could potentially be a title-defining bout, the welterweight division is rife with uncertainty and speculation regarding the next rightful challenger for the championship. With Rakhmonov distancing himself from Usman’s bid for a title shot, the landscape of the UFC welterweight division appears to be ever-evolving, with new contenders emerging to stake their claim to the throne.