Usman Weighs UFC 310 Replacement Offer After Muhammad’s Exit
In November 2024, after welterweight champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from UFC 310, Kamaru Usman was discussed as a possible short-notice replacement for Shavkat Rakhmonov. Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast that December 7 came too soon for him. The fight did not happen, and the event ultimately took a different shape.
Why Usman did not fight at UFC 310
Usman was 37 and had not competed since losing to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023. When asked about a possible bout with Rakhmonov on December 7, he described the matchup as one he would consider, but said the date was too soon. His comments were about timing; they did not confirm a signed fight or an agreement with the UFC.
Rakhmonov instead faced Ian Machado Garry in the co-main event of UFC 310 and won a unanimous decision. Alexandre Pantoja defended the flyweight title against Kai Asakura in the main event. A planned welterweight title fight between Muhammad and Rakhmonov had been removed after Muhammad withdrew with a foot infection and injury.
What happened next
Usman returned in June 2025 and defeated Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision. In July 2026, he moved up to middleweight to face former champion Dricus du Plessis in Oklahoma City. Du Plessis won their five-round main event by unanimous decision, with official scores of 50–45, 49–46 and 49–46.
The short-notice Rakhmonov bout never materialized. Usman’s next UFC appearance came seven months later against Buckley, and his latest fight was the loss to du Plessis. The UFC 310 discussion remains a snapshot of a moment when the promotion was rebuilding its card after Muhammad’s withdrawal.
Sources
UFC: UFC 310 main card results
Reuters: Pantoja submits Asakura; Rakhmonov outpoints Garry
UFC: Usman defeats Buckley
UFC: Du Plessis defeats Usman in Oklahoma City
UFC: Official Oklahoma City scorecards
