Shavkat Rakhmonov is happy to still be competing at UFC 310, but if he had the choice, he would’ve gone with a different opponent.
Rakhmonov faces Ian Machado Garry in the five-round co-main event of Saturday’s pay-per-view card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “Nomad” was initially slotted in the main event spot to challenge Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title before the new champ was forced out due to injury.
A lot of names were supposedly discussed as a replacement opponent, including Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and even surging contender Carlos Prates. In the end, it went to Garry, but if Rakhmonov had the choice, he would’ve gone with the former, longtime champ.
“Usman [would’ve been my choice],” Rakhmonov told MMA Fighting. “He’s higher ranked than me, he’s a former champion and I believe he’s the strongest opponent from the four of them. That’s why I wanted this fight [over all of the others].”
With Garry stepping in to take the spot, that left an opening for the main event of UFC Tampa on Dec. 14 at Amalie Arena as Garry was scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley in the main event. Covington is now set to return to the octagon for the first time since losing a decision to then champ Leon Edwards a year ago at UFC 296 to face Buckley in the final fight of 2024 for the UFC.
Rakhmonov believes Buckley has a very good opportunity to pick up the biggest win of his career.
“Yeah, I wasn’t surprised,” Rakhmonov said. “I don’t know who’s going to win, but I believe Buckley has [a better] chance to get the [win].”