While Shavkat
Rakhmonov went the distance for the first time in his mixed
martial arts career on Saturday night, his ability to prevail in
that type of fight means big things could be on the horizon for the
Kazakhstan native.
Advertisement
Rakhmonov took a closely contested unanimous verdict over Ian Garry in
the UFC 310
co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night. “Nomad” had
finished his first 18 opponents, but getting the victory — by any
method — was the primary goal in this instance.
“Who doesn’t want to finish fights?” Rakhmonov said through a
translator at the UFC 310 post-fight press conference. “I did
everything in my power to do so, but Ian had a great preparation,
but I believe next fight I will continue my finishing streak.
“… For me it’s most important to get the win, and I’m happy I
won.”
Rakhmonov is now 7-0 in UFC competition, and after his latest
triumph, a showdown with reigning welterweight champion Belal
Muhammad looms in the near future. The two welterweights faced
off in the center of the cage following Rakhmonov’s triumph.
Muhammad was initially scheduled to defend his belt against
Rakhmonov at UFC 310 but was forced to withdraw from the bout after
developing a bone infection in his foot.
“I’m the No. 1 title contender and hopefully April or May next year
we’re going to face each other,” Rakhmonov said.
Rakhmonov and Garry were former training partners at Kill Cliff FC,
so it wasn’t the first time they had faced each other in the cage,
though the stakes were much greater on this occasion. Both men
acknowledged that it might not be the last time they square off in
the Octagon.
“We’re going to keep winning and if he keeps winning, we’re going
to meet again,” Rakhmonov said.
Garry, meanwhile, was happy with his performance against what he
called the “boogeyman” of the welterweight division, and he agreed
with Rakhmonov’s sentiment that there might be unfinished business
between the former training partners.
“I said it before the fight, I said it to you guys before, I
believe that he is better than everybody else and I believe that I
am better than everybody else and we are going to see each other
multiple times in our career,” Garry said. “I do not believe that
we are going to see each other one more time, I think it might be
twice. I think he’s that good, and I know I’m that good.”