Shavkat Rakhmonov is quickly earning his reputation as the boogeyman of the UFC welterweight division. He has been on a tear, taking down undefeated Ian Garry and seasoned veterans like Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with. Yet, despite Rakhmonov’s undefeated streak and his ability to break fighters, division champion Belal Muhammad seems unfazed. UFC Champ believes he will give the Kazakhstani fighter the toughest challenge of his career, setting up what could be an explosive matchup in the future.
In a recent interview with MMA on SiriusXM, Belal Muhammad discussed Shavkat Rakhmonov, the next contender for the title. When asked where Rakhmonov ranks among the toughest opponents, Muhammad responded that stylistically, Sean Brady is the toughest in the division, but since he’s already defeated him, he doesn’t see Rakhmonov as the biggest challenge.
Muhammad says Rakhmonov can’t break him because he has already faced a wide variety of skill sets in his career. Instead, he confidently declared that he himself would be the toughest challenge for Rakhmonov.
In his words, “So what I do best and what he does best I don’t think he is going to bring something that I haven’t seen. If you look at the best striker Wonderboy I have already fought. Best grappler I already fought Gilbert Burns, if you look at guy with knockout power I’ve already fought Luque…I’m his toughest fight, but I don’t think he’s my toughest fight.”
Where does Shavkat Rakhmonov rank on the toughest opponent list for @bullyb170?
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) December 17, 2024
"I'm his toughest fight, but I don't think he's my toughest fight."
Source: MMA Today w/@RJcliffordMMA pic.twitter.com/2a4M9c0rxv
Belal Muhammad’s Unpredictable Style Could Be Key To Beating Shavkat Rakhmonov Says Jose Torres
Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres recently weighed in on the potential welterweight title clash between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov, especially after Rakhmonov’s impressive win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310. Torres highlighted Muhammad’s unpredictable fighting style, calling him a “weird” but effective fighter.
He pointed out that Belal keeps opponents guessing, switching seamlessly between striking, grappling, and even faking moves. This unpredictability could make him a tough matchup for Rakhmonov, who’s used to a more consistent approach in the cage.
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Torres believes Belal’s versatility could be the edge he needs to outsmart Rakhmonov. It will definitely be intriguing to see how this welterweight matchup plays out, especially with Belal and other fighters now watching Rakhmonov’s winning streak closely.
Also Read: “Drug Me” – Belal Muhammad Takes Hilarious Dig At Laura Sanko For Shavkat Rakhmonov Support
