Shavkat Rakhmonov was ready to face two former world champions after missing out on his title fight this Saturday.
The fearsome Kazakh fighter remains undefeated at 18-0 and often struggles to find opponents in the UFC. However, when Belal Muhammad was forced out of their scheduled title fight at UFC 310, Rakhmonov was offered several big-name replacements.
However, the UFC struggled to secure an opponent on such short notice. Now, Rakhmonov will face former teammate Ian Machado Garry in a number one contender bout.
Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals Failed Title Fight Offers Before Facing Ian Garry
Shavkat Rakhmonov was presented with three different options before choosing the match-up against Ian Garry this weekend. Two of these options were former world champions and one was another top prospect. Speaking to Submission Radio Rakhmonov said;
“I wanted to fight Kamaru Usman, but he didn’t accept,”
“They also offered Carlos Prates, but he was injured. Colby Covington rejected the fight. I’m happy Ian Garry accepted, though, because it’s going to be a great fight.”
When Rakhmonov was asked why he thought Usman turned down the fight, Rakhmonov responded by saying;
“I don’t know. At first, he accepted, then he rejected. Maybe he didn’t want to risk it; of course, he doesn’t want to lose.”
Ian Machado Garry Claims Kamaru Usman Avoided Fight, Says He’s Afraid to Lose Again
While making an appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, Ian Machado Garry, boldly claimed that Kamaru Usman is too afraid to fight him. This is while acknowledging Usman’s skill. Ian Garry believes the former champion is now unwilling to risk another loss. Garry explained this when he said;
“I had many conversations with the UFC,”
“Initially, we tried to line up a fight with Colby Covington, but we know he’s been avoiding it. Then they started considering Kamaru Usman.”
“The UFC told me, ‘Kamaru Usman wants nothing to do with you,’ meaning he’s running too. Usman looks tough with his big chest, but when it comes to what matters, he’s a little man. That’s how I see it.”
Ian Garry believes both Kararu Usman and Colby Covington are now seeking fights that better suit their styles, as they are near the end of their careers. Ian Garry continued by saying;
“They’ve been through the division and fought everyone. Now, they’re choosing matchups based on style.”
“I guarantee you, Usman will try to fight Jack Della Maddalena because he saw how easily Gilbert Burns took him down. Why would Usman want to face someone long, rangy, and difficult when he could fight someone who’s been easily taken down?”
Kamaru Usman Responds to Criticism, Calls ‘Duck’ Claims Nonsensical
Kamaru Usman has since responded to the criticism surrounding his refusal to fight Ian Machado Garry, dismissing the claims of ducking the match-up as nonsensical. This is while Garry has accused Usman of being afraid to take the fight on and Usman believes such critiques are unfounded. In a recent episode of his podcast, Pound for Pound with Henry Cejudo Usman addressed the online chatter and defended his legacy. This was when he pointed out that he has always faced the best figures in the world and is regarded as one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history. Kamaru Usman said this when he explained;
“I’m seeing people online saying, ‘Aw, you scared? You ducking?’ What? This is the same kind of talk I see about Jon Jones. Fans want a fight, and when they don’t get their way, they just say the fighter is scared,”
Usman then went on to express his frustration with the criticism, highlighting his extensive fight record when he said;
“I’ve had 22 or 25 fights, and people think just because I don’t take one specific fight, that makes me scared? I’ve defended my belt multiple times. You think I’m scared?”
Usman has compared this situation to a child not getting their way and being told “no” by their parents.
“It’s like your mom saying, ‘No, you can’t have that toy today.’ So shut up,” he added, urging his fans to respect the decisions fighters make.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
