Shavkat Rakhmonov reminds Belal Muhammad of his own "14-month inactivity" before UFC 304 title-win after champ demands a number-one contender fight
Shavkat Rakhmonov's campaign for a welterweight title shot continues, as he offered a rebuttal to Belal Muhammad's call for him to be more active. For context, 'The Nomad' has not yet fought in 2024 and it's already September. Moreover, he called for a title eliminator between Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman.
This, however, prompted Rakhmonov to take to X/Twitter to lambast Muhammad. He pointed out the champion's own inactivity prior to his title win, which was preceded by a 14-month absence from the octagon. With Rakhmonov determined to fight for the belt, it's only a matter of time before the UFC makes a decision.
"Do you have a case of selective memory, or did you just forget that you didn't fight for 14 months before challenging for the belt?"
Rakhmonov, who is undefeated at 18-0 with 18 finishes, is eager to assert his claim as quite possibly the greatest welterweight in the world. He can only do so by dethroning newly minted UFC welterweight champion Muhammad. A title eliminator with Usman is not the path he wants to take.
Curiously, Rakhmonov once campaigned for a fight with Usman when a title fight didn't seem to be within his grasp. 'The Nigerian Nightmare,' though, didn't seem too keen on facing him for whatever reason. Now, on a three-fight losing streak, Usman is trying to manufacture a title fight with Muhammad.
Perhaps given how recent UFC 304 was, there is still no news or even rumors from the promotion on who Muhammad should be expected to face in his first welterweight title defense.
Shavkat Rakhmonov hasn't been the most active fighter in the division
With just a few months to go before 2024 ends, Shavkat Rakhmonov has not yet fought in the year. However, it hasn't been for lack of trying, as matchups with Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman, and Belal Muhammad have been rumored. In 2023, he only fought twice, submitting both Geoff Neal and Stephen Thompson.
Similarly, in 2022, Rakhmonov only fought twice, which is the kind of strength of schedule expected of a champion, not a contender looking to work his way into title contention.