UFC’s Shavkat Rakhmonov criticizes Kamaru Usman for wanting a title shot

Shavkat Rakhmonov criticizes Kamaru Usman for trying to insert himself into the UFC welterweight title picture.

Former champion Usman never asked for a title fight, but he has recently been trading barbs with champion Belal Muhammad. That even led to Muhammad telling MMA Junkie that he would be willing to make his first title defense against either Rakhmonov or Usman in December.

Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is confident he will be next, but believes Usman should not be in the title conversation. Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) has lost three fights in a row: two to Leon Edwards in title fights and then a short-notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking,” Rakhmonov told Submission Radio through an interpreter. “I think it’s a shame to ask for a title shot after losing three fights in a row. In my head I can’t understand it. But yeah, it is what it is.”

If Rakhmonov does manage to dethrone Muhammad, he sees two top contenders as favorites to fight for the title, neither of whom is Usman.

“There are some good guys in the division who are very close to a title shot,” Rakhmonov said. “I can say they are Jack Della Maddalena and Ian (Machado) Garry. Maybe they should fight each other and the winner should be the next in the title race after me.”