Yahoo Sports UFC 310: Shavkat Rakhmonov gets replacement opponent, promotion announces new main event
Shavkat Rakhmonov will still be fighting at UFC 310, however, an interim title won't be on the line.
The undefeated welterweight contender is set to face Ian Machado Garry in a five-round non-title bout as the co-main event of the Dec. 10 card, UFC CEO Dana White announced Friday. With Rakhmonov now stepping down to the co-headliner, the flyweight title bout between UFC champion Alexandre Pantoja and former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura has been elevated to headline UFC's final pay-per-view of 2024.
Garry was expected to face Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Tampa on Dec. 14. As a result of the switch, three-time welterweight title challenger Colby Covington is now slated to fight Buckley in a five-round main event.
Rakhmonov expressed displeasure with his fellow welterweights following the announcement.
"I’m very disappointed in our division," he wrote on social media. "Belal (Muhammad), Leon (Edwards), Kamaru (Usman), Jack (Della Maddalena), Sean (Brady) — you’ve all let fans down. The only one who backed up his words is Ian, and I respect that. But make no mistake, [Garry] — I’m coming for your 0 and will fight for the belt after."
Rakhmonov (18-0) was initially set to challenge UFC champion Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title in UFC 310's main event, however the event was thrown into disarray following Muhammad's withdrawal due to a bone infection in his foot. Rakhmonov, 30, carries a perfect 100% finishing rate in his MMA career and has run roughshod over his first six UFC opponents, stopping the likes of Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. He is widely considered to be a future champion of the division.
Garry (15-0) has also been perfect through eight UFC appearances, although he has just three finishes to his name under the promotional banner. The Irishman's most notable victories came in his past two bouts, a split decision over Geoff Neal followed by a unanimous decision over Michael Page.
UFC 310 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
UFC 310 updated fight card
Flyweight title bout: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura
Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry
Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque
Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
Dominick Reyes vs. Anthony Smith
Doo Ho Choi vs. Nate Landwehr
Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
Randy Brown vs. Bryan Battle
Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van
Martin Buday vs. Rizvan Kuniev
Lukasz Brzeski vs. Tallison Teixeira
