Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has expressed doubts about facing undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on December 7 in Las Vegas. Despite earlier showing interest, Usman now believes the date may be too soon for him to return to the octagon.
Speaking on his podcast, Pound 4 Pound, alongside Henry Cejudo, Usman said the fight is winnable but admitted he might not be ready in time.
“To be honest, it’s a fight I’ve looked at, and I know it’s definitely a very winnable fight,” Usman said. “But December 7 might be a little too early for that time. So that’s where I’m at.”
The opportunity came after champion Belal Muhammad pulled out of his title defense against Rakhmonov due to a foot infection. However, the 37-year-old Usman is cautious, especially as he is on a three-fight losing streak. His last bout was a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023, which he accepted on short notice. Before that, he suffered back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards, losing his title at UFC 278 and failing to reclaim it in their trilogy fight at UFC 286.
Usman, originally from Auchi, Nigeria, still holds an impressive record of 20 wins and four losses, including 15 UFC victories. Known for taking on tough challenges with minimal preparation, he famously defended his title against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 in 2020 after just six days' notice.
Rakhmonov, undefeated with an 18-0 record (6-0 in the UFC), has shown interest in facing Usman. However, UFC officials have not yet contacted Usman’s team about the fight.
“The UFC will identify who they believe can handle that challenge. If they call me, I’ll be ready to discuss and see if we can make it happen,” Usman had previously stated.
If confirmed, the fight would be an opportunity for Usman to end his losing streak and possibly work his way back into title contention.
