Shavkat Rakhmonov, despite a major ligament tear in his ankle, secured a victory over Stephen Thompson with a second-round rear-naked choke at UFC 296, maintaining his undefeated record and expressing his determination to fight for the UFC welterweight title.
Shavkat Rakhmonov? The guy’s a warrior. At UFC 296, he was practically hopping on one leg.
Turns out, he had a major setback six weeks before the fight. A torn ankle ligament, no less. Yet, Rakhmonov still managed to choke out Stephen Thompson in the second round. That’s a first for Thompson’s 13-year MMA run.
“I was this close to bailing,” Rakhmonov admitted post-fight, his words flowing through a translator. He avoided kicks, opting for knees instead. “But hey, I clinched the win, thank God.”
Climbing the ranks, that’s Rakhmonov for you. His record? An immaculate 18-0. Six UFC bouts, six finishes. Names like Geoff Neal and Neil Magny? Checked off his list. And get this: he’s never once left it in the hands of the judges.
Post-fight, Rakhmonov didn’t mince words. He’s eyeing the welterweight title, injuries be damned. “Next time, God willing, I’ll be at full throttle,” he declared. “But it’s all the same to me. I’ll fight till my last drop of blood for that win.”
UFC 296? It went down December 16, right in the heart of Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena.
And the main event? Leon Edwards stood his ground as the UFC welterweight champ. He took down Colby Covington, judges all nodding in agreement.