Shavkat Rakhmonov believes he deserves the next UFC welterweight title shot over Conor McGregor despite McGregor’s star power, and remains focused on winning the belt rather than chasing a fight with McGregor.
Shavkat Rakhmonov gets it—Conor McGregor’s return is a huge deal. But he still thinks he’s the obvious choice for the next UFC welterweight title shot, even if McGregor shines in his comeback.
Rakhmonov seems to be the top contender for the 170-pound title, now held by Belal Muhammad after his win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304. “Nomad” told MMA Fighting he was offered a shot at UFC 307 in October and accepted, but claims Muhammad declined due to timing issues.
If McGregor fights Michael Chandler—originally set for UFC 303 in June—before Rakhmonov signs to fight Muhammad, McGregor’s star power could complicate things. History shows it’s possible. Still, Rakhmonov believes the UFC will keep their promise.
“Honestly, I don’t even think about when Conor’s fighting or when he’ll be ready,” Rakhmonov told MMA Fighting. “He’s been prepping for a long time but hasn’t fought yet. So, I’m not really worried about him winning one fight in three years. Will that change anything?
“I know he’s a big star, but I just don’t see it happening. I believe the UFC is the best and fairest organization, so I trust they’ll do the right thing.”
At 29, Rakhmonov has finished all 18 of his opponents, including six in the UFC. In his last fight, ranked No. 3 in MMA Fighting Global Rankings, he became the first to submit Stephen Thompson at UFC 292 last December.
While Rakhmonov doesn’t think McGregor deserves to jump ahead of him if timing favors the Irish star, he admits he’d be interested in fighting McGregor if offered. It’s not something he’s actively pursuing, though.
“So yeah, who wouldn’t wanna fight Conor right now?” Rakhmonov said. “But honestly, I don’t think about it much. Winning the belt is my main focus.”