Covington’s Claimed UFC 310 Offer Did Not Produce
Colby Covington said in a November 6, 2024, Submission Radio interview that he had tried to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. The matchup did not happen; Ian Machado Garry became Rakhmonov’s opponent for the December 7 event.
The replacement discussion produced competing accounts
Covington described his willingness to enter the card after champion Belal Muhammad could no longer take part. His interview presented the situation from his perspective, including his account of why the proposed opportunity had not developed.
Rakhmonov later gave a different account, saying Covington had declined the fight. He also said Kamaru Usman and Carlos Prates had been considered before Garry accepted. Those statements remained attributed accounts of the negotiations.
Garry completed the five-round assignment
Rakhmonov and Garry met in the UFC 310 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight went the full five rounds, with all three judges scoring it 48–47 for Rakhmonov.
The unanimous decision gave Rakhmonov the victory and Garry his first professional defeat. It supplied the completed sporting result after the discussion of several possible replacement opponents.
Covington instead fought Buckley
Covington headlined UFC’s Tampa card against Joaquin Buckley on December 14. Buckley won by technical knockout following a doctor’s stoppage at 4:42 of the third round.
The two December contests therefore followed separate paths. Covington’s public offer and Rakhmonov’s later response formed part of the buildup, but the scheduled Rakhmonov opponent who actually competed was Garry.
Sources
- Submission Radio: original November 6 Covington interview
- Sports Illustrated / Submission Radio: Rakhmonov’s differing account
- UFC: completed Garry fight and unanimous scores
- UFC: subsequent Buckley–Covington result
- BBC Sport: Garry’s first professional defeat
