Ian Machado Garry, after securing his eighth straight UFC win, expressed interest in fighting fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, whom he respects and sees as a significant challenge, while Rakhmonov responded positively but noted their past training sessions where he had the upper hand.
Ian Machado Garry wants to set the record straight with Shavkat Rakhmonov.
This past Saturday, Garry secured his eighth straight UFC win, taking a unanimous decision over Michael Page on the main card of UFC 303. The win moved Garry to 15-0 in his MMA career. Afterward, “The Future” threw out a possible matchup with fellow undefeated contender and former training partner Rakhmonov as his next potential fight.
Speaking on The MMA Hour on Monday, Garry explained what he likes about the matchup.
“I’ve trained with Shavkat,” Garry said. “I’ve got nothing but respect for Shavkat and everything that he’s done. For someone to be 18-0 and have 18 finishes, it’s pretty remarkable.”
He continued, “What I don’t want is for him to fight anyone else and lose that 0. I want to be the guy that, if someone’s going to take it, let it be me. That’s the challenge that I see.”
“When I look at Shavkat, he’s by far the most dangerous guy in the entire division at the moment,” Garry said. “Other than, with respect, the champion.”
“But he’s the most feared at the moment — 18-0, 18 finishes. We’ve not seen anyone cause [him] much trouble.”
Garry mentioned Geoff Neal had a great fight with Rakhmonov back in December but emphasized that’s the opponent he wants to face next.
“That’s the excitement I’m ready for,” Garry added. “Fights like him.”
“That build-up, that skill set — where is he going to try and beat me? Is he going to try and beat me on the feet or is he going to try out-grappling?”
“If so,” Garry said confidently, “I need to get better in both areas because I want to beat him in both areas.”
“These are the fights that excite me,” Garry stated emphatically. “And beating someone like Shavkat and taking his ‘0,’ it excites me. It gets me hyped.”
For his part, Rakhmonov seems willing. Following Garry’s callout, Rakhmonov tweeted a response suggesting he got the better of Garry during their training sessions.
But according to Garry? That’s not really what happened.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Garry said dismissively. “There was one session I remember.”
“We were tippy-tapping,” he recalled vividly. “We had a fight on the same night when he fought Geoff Neal and I fought Kenan Song.”
[Kill Cliff FC coach] Henri Hooft came over and told them both: ‘I understand you two are competitors; you both have fights coming up; go f*cking light.’
“He wanted us just touching each other lightly,” Garry explained further.
“We sat there playing around,” said Garry with a grin.”Moving around being good training partners.”
“Then I threw a right body kick at him; caught it; stepped back; looked at me; went BOOM [mimicking punching motion] right into my rib!”
Garry laughed as he remembered saying: ‘You dirty little c*nt! You f*cker! You just took wind outta my rib!’”
Henri intervened again: ‘Stop it! Don’t be f*cking around!’ It was playful fun but nothing more.”
On top of this story? Sure thing—Garry acknowledged Rakhmonov got better during grappling sessions together!
However…that was more than a year ago! Things are different now!
Besides—Garry believes he’s got advantages too—which makes this fight compelling!
“When it comes down striking—I’m faster—I’m more technical—I’m more talented!” declared confidently by Ian Machado-Garry himself!
“Is Shavkat amazing? Fearless?” Absolutely! But if this fight’s standing up—I’m holding advantage here!”
”When grappling?” He absolutely held advantage then—but I’ve been working hard down Brazil focusing becoming superior grappler myself!”
”So overall—it excites interests knowing strengths weaknesses each other—let’s put show fans!”
”Not often see undefeated vs undefeated high-level division—only way better if world champion taking belt zero same time!”
Whether happens next still uncertain though…Rakhmonov appears lined title shot against winner upcoming rematch Leon Edwards Belal Muhammad UFC304
But should things change unexpectedly…fight between them perfect No1 contender match-up says Ian Machado-Garry
< p > ”Think has be,” says Ian firmly adding would love two more fights before title shot—but opportunity fighting Shavkat there taking zero finishing dominating raising hand any way shape form—it HAS BE No1 Contender spot winner goes fights belt next !”