Kamaru Usman could be back in the mix at the top of the welterweight division despite the fact that he has lost his last three fights inside the Octagon.
The former welterweight champion may be without a win since he lost the title in his second fight with Leon Edwards but he has other factors that make him a credible contender.
Shavkat Rakhmonov may be the clear option on paper but the undefeated finisher doesn’t have the same pedigree and longstanding relationship with the UFC.
The relationship that Usman has built up with the promotion was on full display at UFC 294, where he stepped in to fight Khamzat Chimaev up a weight class on short notice.
Robert Whittaker believes that this puts him in a strong position to get the title shot.
Robert Whittaker Says Kamaru Usman’s UFC 294 Save Puts Him On Good Terms With The UFC
Whittaker isn’t the first to suggest that Usman may be more likely to get the first shot at Belal Muhammad, it would appear.
Rakhmonov has already stated that he was offered to fight Muhammad at UFC 307 but the fight didn’t get signed because the champion couldn’t make that turnaround after winning the title at the end of July.
On a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his thoughts on whether “The Nigerian Nightmare” will be able to secure this fight after what he has done for the UFC in the past.
“I think after Usman stepped in to fight Chimaev on a week’s notice, I feel like that’s a lot of balls in his court. I feel like that’s a lot of weight cuz that’s pretty ballsy, it was a pretty good fight. I don’t know, I wouldn’t be terribly upset if he gets a title shot.”
Whittaker’s co-host on the podcast, Jonny Roses, referenced how after that fight at UFC 294, Dana White went into the Octagon to thank Usman for taking this fight on short notice.
“The Reaper” responded by saying that though he can see Usman getting a title shot or an eliminator, he doesn’t think the promotion will want to do what is best for Muhammad.
“It’s hard to say, I can see them giving it to Usman because of that but Usman hasn’t been in for a long time. I could also say I can also see them fighting Shavkat for that reason but I can’t see UFC doing Belal too much of a solid in terms of matching up his hardest opponents together, you know what I mean. I don’t think he’s earned that credit strip yet.”
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