Shavkat Rakhmonov Defeats Ian Machado Garry, Marking Irishman’s First Career Loss

Welterweights Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov entered their contest at UFC 310 in Las Vegas with a cumulative 33-fight undefeated record. In the event, Irishman Ian Machado Garry experienced the initial loss of his professional career, as Shavkat Rakhmonov secured a decision victory in their welterweight bout. The fight was characterized by its toughness and a scarcity of spectacular highlights, with Rakhmonov’s superior grappling skills ultimately determining the outcome. This loss concluded the 15-fight winning streak of the 27-year-old Machado Garry. Concurrently, Rakhmonov, from Kazakhstan, secured a championship opportunity against current titleholder Belal Muhammad. The win also prolonged the 30-year-old Rakhmonov’s undefeated record to 19 victories. Notably, this particular contest was the first instance where he did not achieve a finish against his opponent. Following his triumph, Rakhmonov commended Machado Garry, referring to him as a “great guy.” Subsequently, he invited American Muhammad into the octagon for a faceoff. During the main event, Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his flyweight championship by submitting Japan’s Kai Asakura, aged 30, with a rear-naked choke in the second round. This win against Asakura, who was making his UFC debut and previously held the bantamweight title twice in the Japanese promotion Rizin, marked the 34-year-old Pantoja’s third successful defense of his championship belt. Furthermore, an announcement made during the broadcast confirmed that South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis is scheduled to defend his middleweight title against American Sean Strickland at UFC 312, taking place in Sydney, Australia, on 9 February. China’s Zhang Weili is also set to defend her strawweight championship against American Tatiana Suarez on the identical fight card. Machado Garry accepted the bout against Rakhmonov with limited preparation time last month, stepping in for Muhammad after the champion withdrew due to an injury. Instead of designating the contest with Rakhmonov as an interim title fight, the UFC structured it as a number one contender bout, with Machado Garry stating that “everything was on the line.” Since his 2021 debut, the Irishman had rapidly ascended the UFC rankings, securing eight victories. However, in Rakhmonov, he encountered an opponent widely referred to as the UFC’s ‘Boogeyman’. The Kazakh competitor had previously defeated all 18 of his adversaries by stoppage, a streak that concluded with Machado Garry. Both fighters demonstrated mutual respect throughout fight week, having previously trained together. Machado Garry extended a fist-bump to Rakhmonov upon his entry into the octagon. The initial two rounds featured minimal significant action, as the two competitors vied for position in the clinch along the cage, with Rakhmonov connecting with a few notable right hands. Machado Garry began to achieve some success in the third round, initiating an assortment of kicks. He subsequently needed to change his shorts at the conclusion of the round due to a substantial tear visible on the back. Rakhmonov asserted dominance in the fourth round, executing the first takedowns of the contest and then delivering powerful strikes while on the ground. Aware that he probably required a finish to secure victory, Machado Garry’s most impactful moment occurred in the concluding round. After gaining Rakhmonov’s back, Machado Garry attempted to secure a rear-naked choke on the mat, with the crowd vociferously supporting the Irishman. However, the Kazakh fighter defended effectively before safely reaching the end of the bout. The two fighters displayed additional respect post-fight, kneeling opposite each other and exchanging words, prior to raising each other’s arms aloft.