Muhammad disagrees with calls for interim title at UFC 310

UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad doesn't think it'd make sense for the promotion to schedule an interim title fight after he withdrew from UFC 310.

Muhammad was forced out of the Dec. 7 main event against Shavkat Rakhmonov earlier this week after developing a bone infection in his toe. He's unable to do physical activity for six weeks, meaning he could theoretically defend his belt in the first quarter of 2025. However, Rakhmonov has said he wants to stay on the card and face "any contender" for the interim title.

Muhammad would rather see the UFC rebook their fight instead.

"I could see them trying to do something with Shavkat," Muhammad said on his "Remember The Show" podcast when asked what he thinks will be the new UFC 310 main event. "He's calling for an interim title fight, and it's like, 'Interim title fight? Bro, it's six weeks, not six months that I'm off.'

"But even for myself, if they just wanna do that just to make it a main event, I mean, I don't really care about it if they wanna an interim title fight regardless. Because they know who has the real belt."

Muhammad last fought at UFC 304 in July when he captured the 170-pound throne with a unanimous decision win over Leon Edwards.

With Ian Machado Garry booked to face Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa and Jack Della Maddalena injured, Muhammad said he believes former champion Kamaru Usman is the only person who could realistically step in against Rakhmonov.

Though he considers it unnecessary to create an interim title given the short time he'll be sidelined, Muhammad said he understands why Rakhmonov still wants to compete in December.

"It really doesn't (make sense). But ... when you're in the middle of camp, it's hard," Muhammad said. "We (had) six weeks left. We were locked in. I can understand him if he's like, 'Bro, I want to fight.'"