Unbeaten welterweight contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov has staked his declare for a title shot at 170lbs subsequent forward of different contenders, pointing to his beautiful 100% end fee and undefeated streaks — as the principle cause he ought to battle newly-minted champion, Belal Muhammad subsequent.
Rakhmonov, the present quantity three ranked divisional contender, most not too long ago featured again in December of final yr on the principle card of UFC 296, bettering to 18-0 with a shocking second spherical rear-naked choke win over two-time title challenger, Stephen Thompson.
As for Muhammad, the streaking Illinois native sprung a large title struggle upset on the finish of July in Manchester, ending the run of two-time foe, Leon Edwards in a unanimous choice shutout win at UFC 304 in his first championship cost below the banner of the group.
And whereas Shavkat Rakhmonov has but to be booked for his subsequent outing amid hyperlinks to a definitive title eliminator towards Australian fan-favorite, Jack Della Maddalena, the Uzbekistan-born challenger has been weighed up as a problem to Muhammad subsequent — alongside former champion, Kamaru Usman.
Shavkat Rakhmonov vows to tackle Belal Muhammad subsequent
Nonetheless, staking his declare for a showdown with the brand new champion subsequent, Rakhmonov took to his social media as we speak, claiming his successful spree ought to land him a cost towards Muhammad earlier than some other challenger.
“18-0 with 100% finishes or 0-3 within the final three fights,” Shavkat Rakhmonov posted on his X account, poking enjoyable on the latest run of former pound-for-pound primary, Kamaru Usman. “I feel there ought to be no query who fights subsequent for the title.”
Within the midst of a three-fight shedding skid towards common-foe, Edwards, and the unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev, Usman has staked his declare for a grudge struggle with Muhammad — who name-dropped a struggle with the Nigerian veteran in a bid to bolster his declare as champion, in a self-labelled legacy championship struggle for himself.
