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United States Shavkat Rakhmonov Beats Ian Machado Garry By UD at UFC 310 to ...
Shavkat Rakhmonov maintained his undefeated record and set himself up for a title shot with a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry in a battle of undefeated welterweight contenders.
Kevin Iole @KevinIScores: All three judges had it 48-47 for Shavkat Rakhmonov #UFC310
The bout got off to a slow start as Rakhmonov was happy to direct the fight to the fence and Garry Machado was hesitant to pull the trigger. His lack of activity allowed Rakhmonov to conserve some energy and drew plenty of criticism.
Kenny Florian @kennyflorianGarry needs to find that right hand counter as Shavkat advances. Is also staying too engaged in the clinch. Needs to separate more and avoid looking for takedowns. Very likely 2-0 for Shavkat. #UFC310
Machado Garry woke things up a little more in the second round. He opened up his striking and was able to bank some decent offense to take the round on some of the media cards.
Seán Sheehan @SeanSheehanBAClearest round so far, as Garry wins the 3rd. 29-28 Shavkat at this point. Two massive rounds ahead. #UFC310
Garry's success in the third frame brought a little more energy out of Rakhmonov. He took Garry down, landed some ground and pound and banked another important round to set up a fifth-round.
Damon Martin @DamonMartin39-37 Shavkat after R4Garry needs a finish and he absolutely, positively cannot give up the takedown#UFC310
Machado Garry needed to get a finish in the fifth round. Though he wasn't able to get one, he did come close to locking in a rear-naked choke that made for a great back and forth fight in the final round.
Rakhmonov should be celebrated for even taking this fight in the first place. The 30-year-old was originally slated to meet welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 310, but Muhammad withdrew from the fight due to a foot injury.
Rakhmonov could have simply waited for Muhammad to return to action. No one would blame him for holding out for a title shot, but he elected to take a replacement fight and stay on the card anyway.
Now, he's a no-brainer to take on Muhammad in his first title defense.
Getting back in the cage was important for Rakhmonov. He took some time off after his December 2023 victory over Stephen Thompson. The contender recognized it was a good decision to get his body right and prepared for the opportunities ahead.
"Sometimes you need to step back and focus on evolving as a fighter without the pressure of a fight camp," Rakhmonov told E. Spencer Kyte of UFC.com. "This time allowed me to refine my skills, work on areas I wanted to improve, and take a step toward reaching the next level. It's been a period of growth, and I feel like a more complete fighter because of it."
An evolving version of Rakhmonov is a scary thought for the rest of the welterweight division. He was a favorite against Muhammad when the fight was originally announced and his undefeated record is littered with impressive finishes.
He's undoubtedly heading toward a title fight with Muhammad where he'll be a notable favorite.
