close
close
quic3f

Shavkat Rakhmonov defeats Ian Machado Garry by UD at UFC 310 to remain undefeated | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Shavkat Rakhmonov

Shavkat RakhmonovChris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Shavkat Rakhmonov maintained his undefeated record and set himself up for a title shot with a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry in a battle of undefeated welterweight contenders.

Kevin Iole @KevinI

Scores: All three judges had it 48-47 for Shavkat Rakhmonov #UFC310

The fight got off to a slow start as Rakhmonov was eager to take 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 attracted a lot of criticism.

Machado Garry stirred things up a bit in the second round. He opened his attack and managed to land a decent attack to make the rounds on a number of media cards.

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 made another important round to set up a fifth round.

Machado Garry had to finish on the fifth lap. Although he failed to get one, he came close with a rear-naked choke, making for a great back-and-forth battle in the final round.

Rakhmonov should be celebrated for taking up this fight in the first place. The 30-year-old was originally scheduled to meet welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 310, but Muhammad pulled out of the fight due to a foot injury.

Rakhmonov could simply have waited for Mohammed to return to action. No one would blame him for holding out for a title shot, but he opted to take a replacement fight and still stay on the card.

Now it’s a no-brainer to take on Mohammed in his first title defense.

Getting back into the cage was important for Rakhmonov. He took some time off following his December 2023 victory over Stephen Thompson. The participant realized that it was a good decision to get his body right and prepare for the opportunities ahead.

“Sometimes you have to take a step back and focus on developing as a fighter without the pressure of a fight camp,” Rakhmonov said. E. Spencer Kyte from UFC.com. “This time I’ve been able to refine my skills, work on areas I wanted to improve and take a step towards 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 Mohammed when the fight was originally announced and his undefeated record is littered with impressive finishes.

He is undoubtedly headed for a title fight with Muhammad, where he will be a notable favorite.

Related Articles

Back to top button