Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry Expect to Meet Again After Close Fight at UFC 310

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.

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.”