Kamaru Usman is open to stepping in as a replacement for Belal Muhammad against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, despite having trained in the same gym as Rakhmonov, after Muhammad withdrew due to a foot infection.
Kamaru Usman and Shavkat Rakhmonov have shared a gym, but that doesn’t mean they can’t face off in the octagon. It’s all business when it comes to fight night.
UFC 310 is up in the air. Welterweight champ Belal Muhammad withdrew from the main event due to a foot infection. He was set to defend his title against Rakhmonov. The big question now: Will their fight be rescheduled, or will Rakhmonov get a new opponent for Dec. 7?
If matchmakers need an elite fighter to replace Muhammad, Usman is ready. Even if it means battling someone he’s often trained alongside.
“First of all, let me clarify something: We’re not teammates,” Usman explained on his Pound-4-Pound podcast. “He trains at my gym—where I’ve been most of my career—but he’s not my teammate per se.”
“But if the UFC calls someone who’s tough enough, crazy enough to step in on short notice, they know who to call,” Usman continued. “I’ve done it on six days’ notice, eight days’ notice. If it’s a couple of weeks, I’m game.”
Usman is on a three-fight losing streak, taking his time finding his next opponent. His last bout? A majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in a middleweight clash he accepted last minute. Before that, back-to-back title losses to Leon Edwards left him winless since November 2021.
There’s tension between Usman and Muhammad, another matchup Usman has eyed. Still, he hopes Muhammad recovers well with no long-term effects from his toe infection.
“That’s my personal belief; I do sometimes think he acts like a dork,” Usman said. “But Belal’s a man, a competitor, a fighter. I’d never want anyone to suffer injuries—it’s our livelihood. So here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Mr. Belal Muhammad.”