Daniel Cormier revealed that Shavkat Rakhmonov fought with a serious knee injury during his unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310, which could explain his uncharacteristic performance in the closely contested fight.
Daniel Cormier had a front-row seat for UFC 310 and some insider info on the co-main event. He was at the commentary desk, watching closely as Rakhmonov faced Ian Machado Garry in a crucial welterweight bout. Despite winning by unanimous decision, Rakhmonov didn’t have it easy.
In a post-fight reaction video, Cormier revealed that Rakhmonov might’ve been battling a serious knee injury. “If I’m Belal Muhammad, I’m actually kind of happy watching this fight tonight,” Cormier mentioned. He speculated that Rakhmonov may have torn his MCL before the fight. Ouch!
MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck reached out to Rakhmonov’s team, who confirmed he was “dealing with something.” No details yet, but an MRI is on the horizon. The plot thickens.
Belal Muhammad was supposed to defend against Rakhmonov but withdrew due to a foot infection. After the fight, Rakhmonov called him into the cage for a respectful faceoff. Drama in the octagon!
If Cormier’s claims are true, it could explain why Rakhmonov couldn’t dominate with his wrestling. Garry’s takedown defense was stellar, and he even threatened with a rear-naked choke in the fifth round. Talk about flipping the script!
Despite the challenges, Rakhmonov secured 48-47 scores from all judges. “It was a good fight,” Cormier reflected. He noted that Garry might regret how he handled the early rounds since Shavkat edged them out with minimal action.
Cormier also commented on how familiarity between fighters can lead to a strategic chess match rather than fireworks. That’s what unfolded between these two warriors tonight—a tactical battle with bursts of excitement.