Update! Kamaru Usman responds to reports of short-notice title fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310

Jesse Holland is among the longest-tenured media professionals in the combat sports news space, covering MMA, professional wrestling and boxing on a full-time basis since early 2004.

Kamaru Usman is no stranger to last-minute, marquee matchups.

Whether or not the former welterweight champion will step in to save the UFC 310 pay-per-view (PPV) main event, left vacant when Belal Muhammad went down with a serious toe infection, remains to be seen.

But it sounds like Usman is willing to fight No. 3-ranked title contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov, if the price is right.

“The UFC is gonna call who they think is gonna be legit tough enough and man enough to step in there, is crazy enough to step in there on short notice, and go out there and possibly shock the world,” Usman said on his Pound-4-Pound podcast (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “Definitely the UFC knows who to call when that situation happens. And if they do give me a call, I’m gonna answer the call, get a couple things straight, and if we’ve got to do it, we’ve got to do it. I don’t shy away from any of that.”

Team Rakhmonov recently told reporters “negotiations are going on” to remain atop the PPV card, scheduled for Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.

Usman (20-4) has not competed since losing a close decision to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 late last year, a middleweight showdown that marked his third straight loss. “The Nigerian Nightmare” turns 38 in just a few months and may be at the tail end of his career.

Winning another world title would certainly provide a storybook ending.