UFC not ready for press conference Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov

When Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become welterweight champion at UFC 304, there was general agreement about who his first challenger would be.

With a record of 18-0 in all finishes, Shavkat Rakhmonov is currently ranked #3 in the 170-pound class and poses a major threat to anyone in this division.

However, there is another challenger who is still ranked ahead of Rakhmonov despite losing his last three fights.

Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was beaten by Edwards in consecutive fights before taking a short-notice opportunity against middleweight Khamzat Chimaev.

While he may be lacking a bit of momentum at the moment, Usman has been a dominant champion whose name still carries a lot of weight, which could be enough to get him back in the title race.

Chael Sonnen says Kamaru Usman needs to push for welterweight title fight because he is so close

In a recent YouTube video, Chael Sonnen specifically emphasized how close Usman is to a title shot for several reasons.

He said he had to come out and say that after “The Nigerian Nightmare” challenged Rakhmonov, when in reality he should be trying to get the title shot because it is possible.

Sonnen pointed out that despite the fact that both men have a fan base outside of the UFC’s usual U.S. audience, the promotion may have some doubts about headlining an event with Muhammad and Rakhmonov – something Usman could use to his advantage.

With Usman being a much more familiar face, his name and pedigree could see him edge ahead of Rakhmonov, although his opponent would be much more deserving of the title given his current form.

“He’s close to getting Belal, I mean, he’s in the process of doing it. There’s only one man who could possibly push him out and that’s Rakhmonov and it’s incredibly important that they get that sorted out. If Rakhmonov pushes him out, Kamaru will probably never be needed again.

“Now it’s time to beat him. Rakhmonov needs to put himself out there a little more. The UFC, no matter how big it is and no matter how big its fan base is, is not ready for a press conference with Muhammad and Rakhmonov, and Kamaru Usman needs to spread this story. I’m only telling you this because he’s so close and didn’t know it at one point.”

Read also: Former opponent reveals he perfectly predicted Belal Muhammad’s ‘Randy Couture-style’ welterweight title win at UFC 304