Ian Garry is set to face Shavkat Rakhmonov in a welterweight bout after welterweight champion Belal Muhammad withdrew due to injury. Despite the setback, Rakhmonov chose to stay on the card, with the UFC reworking the lineup to make his fight with Garry the co-main event. Recently, Garry shared that Rakhmonov’s coach had once predicted he would become a future champion.
Garry and Rakhmonov have trained together several times and know each other’s game well. Early in his UFC career, Garry briefly trained at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, where Rakhmonov was already training. In a Countdown video, Garry shared a private conversation with Rakhmonov’s coach, Henri Hooft, who revealed Shavkat’s belief that both were destined to be champions. According to Hooft, Shavkat said,
“Henri Hooft told me that Shavkat Rakhmonov and him had a conversation [in which] he said ‘Shavkat knows that you’re going to be the champion one day, but he says me first and him later.’
👀Ian Garry claims Shavkat Rakhmonov's coach, Henri Hooft, once told him that Shavkat believed Ian would be a future champion:
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 1, 2024
“He said Shavkat knows you’re going to be the champion one day but he says me first and him later”
🎥@ufc 🔹 pic.twitter.com/pOv3WOq1Lz
Ian Garry Aims To Hand Shavkat Rakhmonov His First Loss
Both Garry and Rakhmonov remain undefeated in the UFC, with Garry boasting a 15-0 record after his unanimous decision win over Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 303, while Rakhmonov holds an 18-0 record. Ahead of their title eliminator fight, Garry shared his confidence on YouTube, saying:
“Honestly, I was pushing for the Shavkat fight. I was pushing for it. Undefeated versus undefeated. We’ve trained together. We know how good we are. We both respect each other. He probably respects me a lot less than I respect him, which is okay, which is okay. That’s the way it should be at that point in our careers. But the truth is, I will take his 0 and I will take that belt.”
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The matchup promises to be an electrifying showdown as both unbeaten fighters look to maintain their flawless records. The suspense of who will face their first loss only heightens the excitement. UFC 310 is set to be a can’t-miss event for fight fans.
Also Read: Shavkat Rakhmonov Embraces Viral Internet ‘Chill Guy’ Trend Ahead Of UFC 310
