Analysis: Shavkat Rakhmonov controlled Garry on middle and close range

A detailed review of Shavkat Rakhmonov's fight against Ian Garry highlights the Kazakh fighter's dominance at middle and close range. Rakhmonov impressed with improved striking at middle distance, landing clean power shots including jabs, overhand rights, and spinning backfists. He controlled the clinch for the first four rounds, took Garry's back, and became the first fighter in the UFC to take Garry down in the center of the octagon, doing so twice. While Garry dominated the long-range game with leg kicks (19.5 points to 1.75), Rakhmonov won the middle distance 15.75 to 10.25 and close range 18.5 to 11.7. The analyst notes that Rakhmonov's lack of activity with leg kicks at long range was concerning, but his control of the two most important fighting ranges—middle and close—secured him the victory despite the overall points being roughly equal at 40-40.