For Belal Muhammad, his reign as the welterweight champion has faced a setback before it could even get rolling. At UFC 310, ‘Remember the Name’ was set to clash with the undefeated Kazakh, Shavkat Rakhmonov. After making history by becoming the first UFC champion of Palestinian descent by beating Leon Edwards at UFC 304, the MMA sphere was eagerly awaiting this matchup as many felt ‘Nomad’s momentum might be the toughest test for Muhammad’s style so far. Just as the bout began to spark fans’ anticipation, Muhammad’s withdrawal due to a bone infection threw the fight night into uncertain waters. But Muhammad will not let it hold up the division.

With the reigning champion sidelined, Rakhmonov, undefeated and hungry for action, didn’t skip a beat. He called for an interim title fight, hoping to secure his spot on the final PPV of the year and now the champion has put Dana White on notice with a bold confession!

Belal Muhammad clears stance on interim title bout at UFC 310  

For the final UFC PPV card of the year, Dana White has found himself with a challenging puzzle in his hands. The main event is now canceled, leaving the promotion scrambling to find a replacement. Meanwhile, Shavkat Rakhmonov has made it clear, “Wishing Belal a quick recovery. We’ll meet when you’re back at 100%. For now, I’m ready to take on any contender for the interim title at #UFC310”

So what does the champ have to say about an interim title fight in his absence? Speaking on an episode of ‘Remember the Show’ Muhammad stated, “(Shavkat Rakhmonov) is calling for an interim title fight. Interim title fight, bro? It’s six weeks, not six months that I’m off.”

However, when it comes to Dana White and the UFC needing another main event for UFC 310, Muhammad proclaimed, “But even for myself, if they just want to do that, just to make it a main event, I don’t really care about it if they want to make an interim title fight regardless because they know who has the real belt….”

For ‘Remember the Name’, it’s less about the belt and more about ensuring fans know who’s king in the welterweight division. But his injury update was no light matter, though. He revealed on social media that a bone infection in his foot had forced him to undergo IV antibiotic treatment.

“Caught a bone infection in my foot .. had to put a picc line in my arm for IV antibiotics the next 6 weeks with no physical activity … Allahs plan is the best plan I’m sorry to everyone that were coming to see me Ill be back soon inshAllah…” Belal had written three days back on Instagram, along with snaps of the infected foot and clips of the treatment procedure. But how concerning is the disease? Let’s hear from a doctor.

Dr. Yared Vazquez, aka octagondoctor posted a detailed breakdown of Belal’s disease on his X handle. The doctor who mentioned it as a “rare but serious” condition stated, ” This infection is no joke and can impact training and performance in a big way.” Medically, the condition is known as Osteomyelitis. It is an infection and inflammation of the bone tissue and bone marrow, most commonly caused by bacteria. According to the Cleveland Clinic, fewer than 25 per 100,000 people contract the disease each year. In Belal’s case, it started with his foot.

After reaching the bloodstream, once it takes hold, the infection can cause severe pain and swelling. This is exactly what Belal had mentioned on his podcast. As revealed by the 36-year-old, a day after sparring, his feet swelled up. Like most fighters, he tried to cruise through it. “My foot was like, sore. And it wasn’t like, a good day,” Belal had said. Finally, he sought medical help.

But despite taking prescribed medicines, and 2 days off from training, the situation did not get better. “My foot blew up even more, like, doubled in size. And I was just like, throbbing pain,” Belal had recalled. Next, the infected foot was cut open to see if any pus secretion happened. That would have indicated a superficial infection and the management would have been easier. But that did not happen. So, an MRI was conducted. The bone area lit, which Belal said was indicative of infection. Once the diagnosis was done, it was time to contain that.

For quick action, antibiotics needed to be delivered directly to Belal’s bloodstream. That is where the PICC line that Belal mentioned came in. “A PICC line is a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter. It’s a long flexible tube inserted into a large vein in the arm. It allows for a steady flow of antibiotics directly into the bloodstream for several weeks,” Vazquez mentioned in his explanation. The convenience of the approach is Belal can manage it while staying at home. It is also more effective than taking the pills.

While Belal recovers, the ball in is the UFC and Dana White’s court as the news of Muhammad’s withdrawal and an opportunity to possibly secure the interim title has got the welterweight division buzzing with names being thrown into the ring!

multiple challengers are in line to fill up the shoes of Belal Muhammad

In the wake of Belal Muhammad’s injury, many prominent names in the welterweight division have indicated their interest in facing Shavkat Rakhmonov, the undefeated phenom who has an incredible 100% finishing rate in 6 Octagon appearances! Among those eager to step in is Ian Machado Garry, who didn’t waste a second after hearing about Muhammad’s exit. Garry, fresh off a win over Michael ‘Venom’ Page, has already shared a video expressing his desire to fight Rakhmonov in the past.

Joaquin Buckley, never one to mince words, made his own case for the Rakhmonov fight with a bit of flair. While he and Garry are currently scheduled to clash at UFC on ESPN 63 on December 14, ‘New Mansa’ took to social media and proclaimed, “Ay look, I’m gonna let you finish but I got something to say. Nobody wants to see that fight, people wanna see knockouts, people wanna see finishes and that’s exactly what I bring.”

However, there’s another name that some may have overlooked, former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. In a cryptic post on X, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ shared eye emojis and a cheeky wink to indicate his interest in getting back into the title picture when news broke about the UFC 310 main event. This is the same emoji he shared before stepping in on short notice against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. While he is currently on a 3-fight losing streak, Usman’s legacy and experience could make him an intriguing choice.

Ultimately, whether Dana White opts for a showdown with an interim title or another main event entirely, UFC 310 remains a night to watch. With Shavkat Rakhmonov at the center of the storm, and names circling like vultures, the welterweight division feels more alive than ever. Do you think the UFC and Dana White should set up an interim title fight for UFC 310? Why or Why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!