Shavkat Rakhmonov is comfortable to nonetheless be competing at UFC 310, but when he had the selection, he would’ve gone with a unique opponent.
Rakhmonov faces Ian Machado Garry within the five-round co-main occasion of Saturday’s pay-per-view card at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas. “Nomad” was initially slotted in the principle occasion spot to problem Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title earlier than the brand new champ was compelled out because of harm.
Numerous names had been supposedly mentioned as a substitute opponent, together with Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and even surging contender Carlos Prates. In the long run, it went to Garry, but when Rakhmonov had the selection, he would’ve gone with the previous, longtime champ.
“Usman [would’ve been my choice],” Rakhmonov informed MMA Combating. “He’s larger ranked than me, he’s a former champion and I consider he’s the strongest opponent from the 4 of them. That’s why I wished this combat [over all of the others].”
With Garry stepping in to take the spot, that left a gap for the principle occasion of UFC Tampa on Dec. 14 at Amalie Area as Garry was scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley in the principle occasion. Covington is now set to return to the octagon for the primary time since shedding a call to then champ Leon Edwards a 12 months in the past at UFC 296 to face Buckley within the remaining combat of 2024 for the UFC.
Rakhmonov believes Buckley has an excellent alternative to select up the most important win of his profession.
“Yeah, I wasn’t stunned,” Rakhmonov mentioned. “I don’t know who’s going to win, however I consider Buckley has [a better] likelihood to get the [win].”
