Daniel Cormier had a cageside seat for UFC 310 and, apparently, the within scoop on the co-main occasion.
In line with Cormier, who was working the commentary desk for Saturday’s UFC occasion at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, Rakhmonov may need been removed from one hundred pc heading right into a pivotal welterweight conflict with Ian Machado Garry. Rakhmonov defeated Garry by unanimous choice, however Garry gave the unbeaten fighter the hardest check of his profession thus far.
In a UFC 310 response video, Cormier claims he was advised that Rakhmonov was competing with a severe knee damage.
“If I’m Belal Muhammad, I’m truly form of joyful watching this struggle tonight as a result of Shavkat Rakhmonov didn’t appear like himself regardless that I discovered after that he had an damage,” Cormier mentioned. “I feel he may need tore his MCL going into the struggle. Granted, with a torn ligament in your knee you’re not going to appear like the killer that you just seemed like in fights prior.”
MMA Combating’s Mike Heck has reached out to Rakhmonov’s administration for remark.
Cormier introduced up Muhammad as a result of the welterweight champion was initially scheduled to defend in opposition to Rakhmonov in Saturday’s important occasion earlier than being compelled to withdraw because of a bone an infection in his foot. After Rakhmonov’s win, he known as for Muhammad to enter the cage and the 2 engaged in a respectful faceoff.
If there’s any reality to Cormier’s declare, it will assist to elucidate why Rakhmonov was unable to say himself together with his wrestling as he has in opposition to a number of of his previous opponents. Garry confirmed wonderful takedown protection all through the struggle and refused to let Rakhmonov muscle him in opposition to the fence. Within the fifth spherical, Garry truly bought the higher of Rakhmonov on the bottom and threatened with a rear-naked choke.
Nevertheless, Rakhmonov did sufficient to earn 48-47 scores throughout the board.
“It was a superb struggle,” Cormier mentioned. “It picked up late. Machado Garry will look again on this and be very upset on the approach that he managed Spherical 1 and a pair of as a result of in Spherical 1 and a pair of, not a lot occurred in any respect, however the few issues that did occur was sufficient to offer Shavkat these rounds. Shavkat did a greater job in Spherical 4 getting takedowns, however in Spherical 5, Machado Garry was urgent, making him work, and virtually bought a submission. That was thrilling.
“While you get guys that know one another very well, there’s a hazard that the struggle might flip into one thing that you just form of anticipate if blended martial arts, the place it’s virtually like a chess match and it’s not as enjoyable. That’s form of what we bought with these two tonight.”
