Shavkat Rakhmonov Calls for Interim Title Fight After Belal Muhammad Withdrawal

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad has been forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. The champion took to social media to reveal the gruesome reason behind his withdrawal, leaving fans and pundits alike stunned by the unexpected development.

Muhammad, who captured the welterweight crown earlier this year with a dominant performance against Leon Edwards, was set to make his first title defense against the undefeated Rakhmonov on December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, fate had other plans for the champion, as he disclosed that he had contracted a severe bone infection in his foot.

The gravity of Muhammad’s condition became apparent when he shared graphic images of his infected foot on social media. The champion explained that he had to have a PICC line inserted into his arm for intravenous antibiotics, a treatment that will sideline him for at least six weeks with no physical activity permitted.

“Caught a bone infection in my foot… had to put a PICC line in my arm for IV antibiotics the next 6 weeks with no physical activity,” Muhammad wrote, apologizing to his fans and expressing his determination to return to action as soon as possible.

Caught a bone infection in my foot .. had to put a picc line in my arm for iv antibiotics the next 6 weeks with no physical activity … Allahs plan is the best plan I’m sorry to everyone that were coming to see me Ill be back soon inshAllah pic.twitter.com/xbXj2B8Szy

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) October 31, 2024

The news of Muhammad’s withdrawal has sent shockwaves through the MMA community and left the UFC scrambling to salvage the main event of their final pay-per-view card of the year. As of now, the promotion has not announced whether Rakhmonov will remain on the card to face a replacement opponent or if another bout will be elevated to main event status.

In the wake of this development, Rakhmonov has called for an interim title fight, eager to maintain his momentum and stake his claim in the welterweight division. The undefeated Kazakh fighter boasts an impressive record of 18-0, with all of his victories coming by way of finish, making him one of the most feared contenders in the 170-pound weight class.

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 310 card, which was shaping up to be a stacked event to close out the year, now faces a significant challenge. The co-main event, featuring a flyweight title bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura, remains intact and could potentially be elevated to the main event slot. Other notable fights on the card include Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling and Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov.

As the MMA world awaits further updates from the UFC regarding the fate of UFC 310’s main event, speculation runs rampant about potential replacements for Muhammad. Names like Ian Garry and Jack Della Maddalena have been floated as possible opponents for Rakhmonov, while some have even suggested the return of former champions Kamaru Usman or Leon Edwards.

The situation serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of combat sports, where injuries and unforeseen circumstances can derail even the most anticipated matchups. As fans and fighters alike adjust to this new reality, all eyes will be on the UFC to see how they navigate this challenging situation and deliver a compelling main event for their year-end spectacular.