UFC 310: Shavkat Rakhmonov Wins, But Ian Machado Garry's Stock Just Went Higher

Shavkat Rakhmonov (left) and Ian Machado Garry share their reactions following a five-round welterweight match, which Rakhmonov emerged victorious from after the judges' decision. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Shavkat Rakhmonov is preparing for another chance at the UFC welterweight championship, but he nearly lost that shot to Ian Machado Garry, surprising many fans in the process.

Originally, Kazakhstan's Rakhmonov, 30, was scheduled to face welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 310 in Las Vegas. However, when Muhammad had to withdraw due to a serious toe infection, Rakhmonov stepped up and agreed to a last-minute match against fellow contender and former training partner Ian Machado Garry.

The matchup quickly garnered excitement among fans, with Rakhmonov entering the cage boasting an impressive 18-0 record and an incredible finishing rate of 100 percent. Meanwhile, Ireland's Garry was also unbeaten, with a record of 15-0. However, most people believed that Rakhmonov would secure a decisive victory, likely by stoppage.

That's not how it unfolded. Instead, Rakhmonov ultimately let go of his perfect finishing record and ended up winning by a tight unanimous decision.

"Ian Garry was a tough competitor, and that became clear during the match," the humble Kazakh remarked in his post-fight chat with commentator Joe Rogan. "I’m happy with the victory. I appreciate all the support."

The match began at a rather relaxed pace.

In an unexpected development, Rakhmonov focused extensively on his clinch strategy right from the start, achieving over three minutes of control along the cage by the conclusion of the first round. He became slightly more aggressive in the second and third rounds, and so did Garry, but Rakhmonov still dedicated a significant portion of those 10 minutes to pinning his opponent against the fence.

Haha, Ian fails to land a backfist, prompting Shavkat to swiftly respond with one of his own. #UFC310 pic.twitter.com/opTXzc1O6w

Rakhmonov's clinch offense was so persistent that the back of Garry's shorts ended up tearing. This was a first in the Octagon, leading the Irish fighter to switch outfits between the third and fourth rounds.

"That suggests they’re dedicating an excessive amount of time to that Octagon area," joked Daniel Cormier, a former champion in two weight classes who is now a commentator.

Putting on a different pair of shorts appeared to energize Garry.

In the fourth round, Shavkat managed to achieve his first takedown of the match, having completed only two out of ten attempts throughout the fight. However, the Irish fighter intensified his attacks in the later rounds. His standout moment occurred in the fifth round when he nearly submitted his opponent with a rear-naked choke, creating an electric atmosphere that had Rogan and Cormier buzzing with excitement.

"That was a narrow escape," DC remarked, and just moments later, Rogan echoed his words.

Rakhmonov managed to withstand the submission attempt, but when Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer revealed the decision in his favor, he seemed more relatable than ever, largely due to Garry's outstanding performance.

Although it wasn't the decisive victory that a lot of fans anticipated, Rakhmonov's win at UFC 310 cemented his position as the leading contender for Muhammad's title. Any remaining uncertainty about his status as the next challenger vanished when the champion came into the cage to confront the undefeated fighter from Kazakhstan.

"I'm thrilled," the often overlooked Muhammad remarked as the audience at the T-Mobile arena expressed their discontent with boos, while vibrant blue Kazakh flags fluttered in the stands. "I can hear the crowd's jeers; soon those boos will transform into tears."

"No more injuries," Rakhmonov said, mentioning the infection that led to the cancellation of their scheduled fight at UFC 310. "We'll see who the superior fighter is."

It's yet to be determined when Muhammad and Rakhmonov will face off in the octagon, but the champion has received the green light to fight, suggesting it could take place in the early part of the upcoming year. Whenever the match happens, it's sure to be one of the most eagerly awaited bouts on the schedule.

Following his exhilarating showdown with Rakhmonov, Garry's upcoming fight is likely to generate just as much excitement as a championship bout. Although he will certainly take some time to come to terms with losing his undefeated status, he demonstrated his status as a top-tier welterweight at UFC 310. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see him competing for the title — and possibly even facing Rakhmonov again — in the next few years.

Ian Garry stepped up with just three weeks' notice. There's a possibility that Belal could secure a finish. pic.twitter.com/fXoqbuCzSm

It may require a few additional victories to accomplish this, but based on his recent performance in Las Vegas, it’s difficult to envision many welterweights posing a significant threat to him.