Daniel Cormier had a cageside seat for UFC 310 and, apparently, the within scoop on the co-main occasion.
In keeping with Cormier, who was working the commentary desk for Saturday’s UFC occasion at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Rakhmonov might need been removed from one hundred pc heading right into a pivotal welterweight conflict with Ian Machado Garry. Rakhmonov defeated Garry by unanimous resolution, however Garry gave the unbeaten fighter the hardest take a look at of his profession to this point.
In a UFC 310 response video, Cormier claims he was advised that Rakhmonov was competing with a critical knee harm.
“If I’m Belal Muhammad, I’m truly type of joyful watching this battle tonight as a result of Shavkat Rakhmonov didn’t appear like himself despite the fact that I realized after that he had an harm,” Cormier mentioned. “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 like the killer that you just appeared like in fights prior.”
MMA Preventing’s Mike Heck reached out to Rakhmonov’s administration, who advised him that Rakhmonov was “coping with one thing,” although no specifics got. Rakhmonov is predicted to endure an MRI this week.
Cormier introduced up Muhammad as a result of the welterweight champion was initially scheduled to defend in opposition to Rakhmonov in Saturday’s essential occasion earlier than being pressured to withdraw on account of 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 reality to Cormier’s declare, it will assist to elucidate why Rakhmonov was unable to claim himself along with his wrestling as he has in opposition to a number of of his previous opponents. Garry confirmed glorious takedown protection all through the battle and refused to let Rakhmonov muscle him in opposition to the fence. Within the fifth spherical, Garry truly obtained 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 an excellent battle,” Cormier mentioned. “It picked up late. Machado Garry will look again on this and be very disenchanted 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 present 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 nearly obtained a submission. That was thrilling.
“If you get guys that know one another rather well, there’s a hazard that the battle may flip into one thing that you just type of anticipate if you realize blended martial arts, the place it’s nearly like a chess match and it’s not as enjoyable. That’s type of what we obtained with these two tonight.”
