Despite heavy links to a short-notice title fight next month at UFC 310, Kamaru Usman has claimed a December return against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov may come too soon for him.
Usman, a former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter under the banner of the promotion, has been out of action since making an impromptu middleweight walk against the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev a year ago on short-notice
Still retaining the number two rank at 170lbs despite riding a two-fight losing run against former champion, Leon Edwards – Usman was pushed into title contention in an interim title affair with Rakhmonov, with current titleholder, Belal Muhammad withdrawing from the UFC 310 headliner citing a bone infection in his foot.