Ian Machado Garry vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov Announced for UFC 310 Fight Card

After a foot injury forced welterweight champion Belal Muhammad off the card for UFC 310, Shavkat Rakhmonov has decided to accept a replacement bout against Ian Machado Garry.

UFC announced that Rakhmonov and Garry will square off in the five-round co-main event for the Dec. 7 show.

Muhammad was scheduled to defend his title against Rakhmonov in the main event, but it was announced on Oct. 31 he had to withdraw from the bout due to a bone infection in his foot.

The champion said he is unable to do any physical activity for six weeks after he was hospitalized to receive antibiotics through an IV.

Rakhmanov said on the Nov. 4 episode of The Ariel Helwani Show (h/t Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie) that he was willing to remain on the card in an interim title fight.

“I believe there are worthy opponents available,” Rakhmonov said through an interpreter. “I’m ready to save the card too if it’s for the interim belt. I believe Usman is a worthy opponent who’s going to be ready to jump in to face me.”

Sayat Abdrakhmanov, Rakhmanov’s manager, said negotiations were ongoing and he was “sure” UFC offered an interim title fight to former champion Kamaru Usman.

Muhammad pushed back on the idea of an interim welterweight title because he only needs six weeks to heal.

Rakhmonov is taking a significant risk in staying on the card in a non-title fight. Both fighters have perfect records in their mixed martial arts careers. Nomad is 18-0, including five wins in UFC, but he hasn’t fought at all this year while waiting for a title bout.

Garry is 15-0, with eight of his wins coming in UFC. He most recently defeated Michael Page via unanimous decision at UFC 303 on June 29.

The other main event at UFC 310 will be a flyweight title bout with Alexandre Pantoja defending the championship against Kai Asakura.