Shavkat Rakhmonov Claims Belal Muhammad Refused to Defend UFC Title ‘Due to Timing Issues’

Shavkat Rakhmonov has claimed that Belal Muhammad declined a UFC title defense against him due to “timing issues.”

Muhammad scored a surprise victory over Leon Edwards in July, beating the Jamaican-born Briton in Manchester to win the welterweight belt.

Muhammad easily defeated Edwards on points, three years after their final fight. Rakhmonov is now expected to be the American-born Palestinian’s first opponent.

“I was already offered a fight against Belal, and I accepted the fight against Belal,” Rakhmonov told MMA Fighting on Friday (August 30). “But unfortunately, he refused to fight me because of timing issues. He was not ready to defend his belt at that time.”

“It was in October, in Salt Lake City,” added the Kazakh, who has a record of 18 wins, 0 losses and 18 knockouts. Rakhmonov was referring to UFC 307, which will now feature a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr.

“So we’ll see what happens and when he’s ready, so I can face him. Before he became champion, and after he won the belt, he said he would be an active champion and defend his belt more often. But right now, he hasn’t kept his promises.

“I don’t know what’s going on with Belal. If they say December or January, I’ll be ready; if they say April or May, it doesn’t matter. I already deserve to fight for the belt. I already got the spot, and I’m just going to make sure I’m ready for the fight. So whenever he’s ready, I’m in.”

Rakhmonov, 29, last fought in December, defeating former title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson by submission.

Rakhmonov is widely considered a future UFC champion, but Muhammad is in great shape. The 36-year-old is on a 10-fight winning streak that spans five years, not including his no contest against Edwards in 2021.