Now that Belal Muhammad versus Shavkat Rakhmonov isn’t happening, what’s the plan for UFC 310? Muhammad pulled out of the event because of a bone infection and thus left Rakhmonov without an opponent. That’s when Colby Covington decided he wanted to save the event.

As reported by ‘Submission Radio,’ ‘Chaos’ stated, “I was excited about the opportunity to step in there, but it looks like they are going in a different route. Potentially with the Usman and Shavkat fight.”

He shared that he was still willing to face Rakhmonov, even on short notice. “I offered. I told the UFC that I was willing to step up to the plate, I would love to save the show and put on a good show for the fans. They pay their hard-earned money for big, mega fights. They need a mega-fight. That’s not a mega fight. … I wanted the fight, and I asked for it, but I think (the UFC) had other plans,” he told ‘Submission Radio’.

It is obvious Covington isn’t happy about it. A fight against ‘The Nomad’ would have been big. But what makes it worse is rumors about his biggest rival, Kamaru Usman, stepping up for the fight. That’s got to pinch!

Here’s the thing: Usman seems the best option to fight Rakhmonov, especially if it is for the interim fight. After all, #1 ranked Leon Edwards is out until 2025 because of a back injury. Usman is ranked #2 and Rakhmonov is #3.

However, Dana White hasn’t officially announced Usman versus Shavkat Rakhmonov. So fans will have to wait a little longer for a confirmation about Usman. But hey, Colby Covington isn’t the only one who has talked about Usman potentially fighting at UFC 310. Rakhmonov revealed something similar.

During a new appearance on ‘The Ariel Helwani Show’, ‘Nomad’ stressed his desire for the interim belt and the credibility Kamaru Usman would bring as an opponent. Through an interpreter, he confidently declared, “I’m ready to save the card too if it’s for the interim belt. I believe Usman would be ready to jump in to face me. Belal [doesn’t] need to be greedy. If I become interim champ, he’s still going to have a belt too. And it’s going to be champ vs champ – [an] even bigger fight.”

It’s a bold move, but one fitting for a fighter whose trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric with a 6-0 UFC run, and all finishes so far. Could a battle with Usman finally secure his place among the division’s elite? After all, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ was a dominant champion at 170 lbs. At UFC 294, he stepped up at the last minute to face Khamzat Chimaev and fought all three rounds. Despite losing the middleweight bout, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ impressed people.

Behind the scenes, negotiations are reportedly underway to make this interim fight a reality. Rakhmonov’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, also hinted that the UFC and Dana White may be in talks with Kamaru Usman, noting that it isn’t clear if any other fighter has been approached. So, where does that leave Colby Covington? Well, a surprising figure has thrown his name in the mix for a chance to face off against ‘Chaos’!

Paddy Pimblett calls out Covington for a fight and blasts his “fake” persona

Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett is back in the scene, and he is looking for a fight that could make waves in the UFC. After a standout victory over Bobby ‘King’ Green at UFC 304 earlier this summer, Pimblett has his eyes set on Colby Covington and Conor McGregor. These two names have the potential to take the Liverpool native’s career to the next level.

In an interview with OLGB last month, Pimblett stated, “Yeah, if they got on me now and said do you want to fight Conor McGregor in December. Of course, I’d say yes – I’m not stupid. Or Colby as well, because I think he’s a p—-. He is so fake.”

“Every UFC staff I’ve spoken to says he’s such a nice person. I’m like, but why is he a bellend then? So like he’s a proper nice person behind the camera and then it’s like, well, that’s just a knobhead then because he is fake [in front of the camera] I don’t like that lad, I used to watch wrestling when I was a kid, but that’s proper wrestling. Nah, I’m not into it.”

Interesting Fact: Colby Covington last fought at UFC 296 in December 2023. He faced Leon Edwards but lost via a unanimous decision.

We aren’t too sure if such a fight could take place as Pimblett fights at lightweight. But it would surely be interesting. Who do you want to see Colby Covington fight next? Let us know in the comments below.