Behind the Scenes UFC Matchmaking Footage:
UFC was trying to set up a fight between Shavkat Rahmonov and Kamaru Usman in Abu Dhabi, but Ali Abdelaziz told Dana White that Kamaru wanted to fight Wonderboy.
Khabib also said that Shafqat vs Usman is a fight that needs to happen.
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June 8, 2024
While the UFC wants to pit Kamaru Usman against Shavkat Rahmonov, the former welterweight champion is apparently hoping to face Stephen Thompson.
The latest season of Fight Inc.: Inside the UFC featured behind-the-scenes footage of UFC matchmaking, in which UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby was shown explaining a welterweight bout to company CEO Dana White. While Shelby was considering a match between Kevin Holland and Rakhmonov, “The Trailblazer” reportedly didn’t want to face the Kazakh phenom.
Meanwhile, Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena is preparing to face Rakhmonov, but Usman is Shelby’s top choice for the fight.
“The truth is [Kevin] “Holland doesn’t really want to fight Shafqat,” Shelby told White.[Jack
Della Maddalena] They said, “Send me somebody.” So I said, “Holland is here, Holland is OK.” And he said, “What about Shafqat?” I said, “I want to get to the championship as fast as possible.” But the problem is [Kamaru] Usman is still there. It’s a fight between Shafqat and Usman.”
At this point, White was informed that Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, was nearby, and White immediately went to Abdelaziz to extend the offer to Usman vs. Rakhmonov at UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi on August 3.
“The Shafqat vs. Usman fight will take place in Abu Dhabi,” Whyte said.
But Abdelaziz revealed that “The Nigerian Nightmare” wants Thompson, who is coming off a loss against Rahmonov and has one win and three losses in his last four fights.
“Ousmane ‘Wonderboy’, that’s what he wants,” Abdelaziz replied.
White was surprised by Usman’s choice of opponent, and did not miss an opportunity to criticize Thompson for withdrawing from UFC 291. Thompson said he initially did not receive compensation for refusing to make weight and face the overweight Michel Pereira, but has since been compensated. White also reminded Abdelaziz of the very different implications of a potential win against Rakhmonov rather than Thompson.
“Wonderboy? He was three pounds heavier than him and he wouldn’t even fight him… What does it mean if he beats ‘Wonderboy’?'” White said. “What does it mean if he beats Shafqat?”
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was sitting next to Abdelaziz, asked White if a win over Rakhmonov would guarantee Usman the “next challenger” spot.
“100 percent,” White said.
Usman is currently on a three-fight losing streak, having suffered back-to-back losses in title bouts to Leon Edwards and then losing a narrow majority decision to Khamzat Chimaev in his middleweight debut.
Meanwhile, Rakhmonov has won all 18 of his professional fights, including six at UFC, and is on the brink of a title shot, but it remains to be seen whether Usman’s insistence on fighting Thompson gives Maddalena, who is on a 17-fight winning streak, including seven at UFC, a shot at a title shot.
