Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kelvin Gastelum will fight in a welterweight co-main event during the upcoming UFC card; being part of the show to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, the bout was requested by both fighters and will serve as a co-headliner to the flyweight title rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is preparing to clash with Kelvin Gastelum in an exciting welterweight co-main event. The showdown is anticipated to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 16. The event is part of the celebration dedicated to Mexico’s Independence Day. The announcement came from UFC president Dana White, with this event set to be part of a larger celebration including a flyweight title rematch between current champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.
Rakhmonov and Gastelum’s bout was initiated after both fighters expressed their mutual interest in battling each other. Clearly, the UFC was attentive to the athletes’ request. Undefeated Rakhmonov, boasting an impressive 17-0 record with a 100 percent finishing rate, has demonstrated significant growth in the UFC rankings since his debut in the competition. His remarkable wins include submitting Geoff Neal and Neil Magny in consecutive performances.
Rakhmonov now aims to include Gastelum in his undefeated record. This serves as a significant shift for Gastelum, as he is returning to the welterweight division after a five-year hiatus since 2016. Gastelum was previously seen as a potential contender in this category, but he faced difficulties with weight management, prompting his shift to the middleweight division. There, he made notable strides, securing wins against Michael Bisping, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and most recently, achieved a “Fight of the Night” performance against Chris Curtis. Now he takes on the challenge of competing against Rakhmonov in September. Additional matches are planned for the card on September 16, and the event will also be available for live streaming on ESPN+ domestically.