Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is out of UFC 310 due to a “bone infection”, leaving his challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov calling for an interim-title fight.
Reports on Thursday (31 October) suggested Muhammad would not be able to carry out his first title defence, which was scheduled for 7 December, and the champion soon confirmed the news.
“Caught a bone infection in my foot,” Muhammad wrote on Instagram. “Had to put a picc [peripherally inserted central catheter] line in my arm for iv [intravenous] antibiotics the next 6 weeks with no physical activity.
“Allah’s plan is the best plan, I’m sorry to everyone that were [sic] coming to see me, I’ll be back soon inshAllah.”
The Palestinian-American also shared several videos of himself in hospital, as well as photos of a swollen, stitched toe.
Fans suspect that Rakhmonov will be paired with a new opponent at UFC 310, in order to save the main event, and the Kazakh has called for an interim-title fight.
“Wishing Belal a quick recovery,” Rakhmonov wrote on X. “We’ll meet when you’re back at 100%. For now, I’m ready to take on any contender for the interim title at #UFC310.”
Muhammad, 36, won the title by outpointing Britain’s Leon Edwards in Manchester in July, three years after they fought to a No Contest. Muhammad’s title triumph extended his win streak to 10 fights in five years, bar that No Contest.
Rakhmonov, 30, last fought in December, submitting Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson to move to 18-0 with 18 finishes.
Rakhmonov is ranked third at welterweight, with fans speculating that he could fight ex-champion Kamaru Usman (#2), Jack Della Maddalena (#4), or Ian Machado Garry (#7) at UFC 310.
Machado Garry reacted to Thursday’s news by sharing old footage of himself calling for a bout with Rakhmonov, with whom he has sparred in the past.
Elsewhere in the 170lb rankings, Edwards sits at No 1, Sean Brady is ranked fifth, and former interim champion Colby Covington is ranked sixth.
In any case, it is possible that the co-main event of UFC 310 is simply elevated, as Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against Kai Asakura – who is set to make his UFC debut in that fight.
