18-0 undefeated Kazakh star Shavkat Rakhmonov seems to have had enough of fighting normal contenders. He recently made a statement, clearing the air regarding his status as the rightful number-one contender for the 170-pound division’s gold strap, and he wants no doubt about it. ‘Nomad’ didn’t even spare former champion Kamaru Usman who recently released his demands for a title shot against Belal Muhammad.
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Kamaru Usman hasn’t found his footing since losing the title to Leon Edwards in late 2022. He failed to reclaim his title in the trilogy fight and even failed to beat Emirati star Khamzat Chimaev in his first-ever middleweight fight in the UFC last October. However, a few weeks ago, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ claimed that he was looking to get back his title, which Shavkat Rakhmonov finds to be a “shameful” demand.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking about. Like, I think it’s kind of a shame to ask for a title shot after losing three fights straight. I cannot get my head around it,” Shavkat Rakhmonov stated during an interview with ‘Submission Radio’. The Kazakh star would even share a tweet regarding Kamaru Usman, adding more salt to the wound, and double down on his opinion of the former champion.
I will be ashamed in his place 🤐
Shavkat Rakhmonov says it's a "shame" that Kamaru Usman wants a title shot coming off three consecutive losses 😤 “𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 pic.x.com/CS6q8mdUTC
“I will be ashamed in his place,” ‘Nomad’ tweeted recently. But did you think that’s all Shavkat Rakhmonov had to say? Well, UFC broadcaster Laura Sanko‘s favorite fighter even sent a warning to the reigning UFC champion, Belal Muhammad, even though Jack Della Maddalena, Leon Edwards, and Kamaru Usman, have emerged as the next contenders to the 170-pound gold.
“Nowhere to run” for Belal Muhammad, claims Shavkat Rakhmonov
In the same interview with ‘Submission Radio’, Shavkat Rakhmonov also sent a clear warning to the welterweight champion, claiming that he has his eye set on the title and that he cannot avoid it for too long. “All I can say to Belal [is] to get ready. He knows there’s nowhere to run. You know, this fight has to happen next and the cage will close and we’ll see who’s the better man,” Rakhmonov further stated.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 20: Belal Muhammad is seen during a Q&A session prior to the UFC 294 ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena on October 20, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Shavkat Rakhmonov also took a jibe at how Belal Muhammad claimed that he would be a fighting champion. After UFC 304, ‘Remember the Name’ would claim that he would be like Alex Pereira and step up when needed. However, Rakhmonov doesn’t see Muhammad doing that and predicts that maybe the champion isn’t willing to defend his title anytime soon. “After all the talk about being an active champion, truth is Belal isn’t even ready to defend his title this year,” ‘Nomad’ tweeted.
Although Shavkat Rakhmonov has made a good point about his title contender status, he still hasn’t defeated anyone in the top 5 yet. Do you think he will have to prove a little more or is a title shot his next stop? Drop your comments below.