‘I’m happy there’s no interim belt’… Belal Muhammad reacts to a chaotic few weeks in his division after UFC 310 withdrawal

It's been a rather chaotic few weeks for the welterweight division, with the headliner title fight at UFC 310 falling through before a series of major changes were made to the current fight schedule.

Fortunately, the promotion has made the best of a difficult situation, with four top prospects now facing off in Belal Muhammad's absence over the course of just seven days.

Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images

Welterweights will switch dance partners for the final two UFC cards of 2024

If you're not up to date with what's been going on in the UFC welterweight division lately, the recent 170-pound storyline can be broken down into three parts.

First, champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from his UFC 310 main event title fight against No. 3 seed Shavkat Rakhmonov after suffering a painful bone infection in his foot: a host of contenders raised their hands as potential replacements.

Secondly, #7 Ian Machado Garry vs. #9 Joaquin Buckley was then made for the main event of UFC Tampa, before the promotion decided to move 'The Future' to UFC 310 to keep Rakhmonov on that final PPV card.

Third, former interim champion and No. 6 ranked Colby “Chaos” Covington accepted a fight contract to face Buckley in Tampa, meaning the final two events of 2024 are Garry vs Rakhmonov (UFC 310 co-main) and Buckley vs Covington ( UFC) will include. Tampa main course).

Shavkat Rakhmonov will face Ian Machado Garry in a No. 1 contender bout in the co-main event at UFC 310, Dana White announced Friday.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura is the new main event. pic.twitter.com/cmodGebIzO

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 16, 2024

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Belal Muhammad reacts to Ian Machado Garry vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310

Given the nature of Mohammed's withdrawal from UFC 310, fans were quick to suggest that the undefeated Rakhmonov should remain on the PPV card and fight for an interim title shot.

That didn't work out and “honestly, I'm glad there wasn't an interim belt,” Muhammad admitted on the latest episode of the 'Remember The Show' podcast, explaining how “I didn't think it was necessary.

“But yeah, I think the matchup makes a lot of sense when you look at the division… It made more sense than Buckley and Ian Garry.

“I think Shavkat and Ian Garry are both undefeated, both guys who are right at the top, and they've challenged each other before. It makes a lot of sense and I'm curious to see how it goes.”

While Muhammad is pleased with how the chaotic title picture turned out, he admitted it's been a rough few weeks as he begins his long road to recovery.

'It's been a tough, tough three weeks… The doctor [just] gave me permission, he said that the toe looks good and the wound is completely closed, so I started jogging on it.

“The only thing is that I still have ten days of antibiotics, so on December 1 the PICC line will come out and we can all get started. Now I can see the finish line. It feels so good.”

UFC 310 is scheduled for December 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, while UFC on ESPN: Covington vs Buckley takes place a week later on December 14 – we expect Muhammad to be cageside for at least one, if not both. those events.

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