Daniel Cormier had a cageside seat for UFC 310 and, apparently, the within scoop on the co-main occasion.
In line with Cormier, who was working the commentary desk for Saturday’s UFC occasion at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, Rakhmonov might need been removed from 100% heading right into a pivotal welterweight conflict with Ian Machado Garry. Rakhmonov defeated Garry by unanimous determination, however Garry gave the unbeaten fighter the hardest check of his profession to date.
In a UFC 310 response video, Cormier claims he was informed that Rakhmonov was competing with a critical knee damage.
“If I’m Belal Muhammad, I’m really form of glad watching this battle tonight as a result of Shavkat Rakhmonov didn’t appear to be himself although I realized after that he had an damage,” Cormier stated. “I believe he might need tore his MCL going into the battle. Granted, with a torn ligament in your knee you’re not going to appear to be the killer that you just appeared like in fights prior.”
MMA Preventing’s Mike Heck has reached out to Rakhmonov’s administration for remark.
Cormier introduced up Muhammad as a result of the welterweight champion was initially scheduled to defend in opposition to Rakhmonov in Saturday’s most important occasion earlier than being compelled to withdraw attributable to a bone an infection in his foot. After Rakhmonov’s win, he referred to as for Muhammad to enter the cage and the 2 engaged in a respectful faceoff.
If there’s any fact to Cormier’s declare, it could assist to elucidate why Rakhmonov was unable to say himself along with his wrestling as he has in opposition to a number of of his previous opponents. Garry confirmed wonderful takedown protection all through the battle and refused to let Rakhmonov muscle him in opposition to the fence. Within the fifth spherical, Garry really acquired the higher of Rakhmonov on the bottom and threatened with a rear-naked choke.
Nonetheless, Rakhmonov did sufficient to earn 48-47 scores throughout the board.
“It was battle,” Cormier stated. “It picked up late. Machado Garry will look again on this and be very dissatisfied on the means that he managed Spherical 1 and a couple of as a result of in Spherical 1 and a couple of, not a lot occurred in any respect, however the few issues that did occur was sufficient to provide Shavkat these rounds. Shavkat did a greater job in Spherical 4 getting takedowns, however in Spherical 5, Machado Garry was urgent, making him work, and virtually acquired a submission. That was thrilling.
“Whenever you get guys that know one another rather well, there’s a hazard that the battle may flip into one thing that you just form of count on if you already know blended martial arts, the place it’s virtually like a chess match and it’s not as enjoyable. That’s form of what we acquired with these two tonight.”
