A detailed breakdown of Shavkat Rakhmonov's fight with Ian Garry reveals several key areas of improvement and concern. Rakhmonov showed significant progress at mid-range compared to his bout with Geoff Neal, effectively landing single power strikes including jabs, overhand rights, left hooks, and spinning backfists. He dominated the clinch in the first four rounds, successfully taking Garry's back and controlling him in deep underhooks. Rakhmonov became the only fighter in the UFC to take Garry down in the center of the octagon, accomplishing this twice and landing ground strikes from top position. However, a concerning weakness was Rakhmonov's lack of activity at long range, where he failed to land a single kick in four of five rounds and conceded significant points to Garry's leg kicks. The analyst scored the fight roughly even at 40-40 in total points, with Garry dominating long range 19.5 to 1.75, while Rakhmonov won mid-range 15.75 to 10.25 and close range 18.5 to 11.7, giving Rakhmonov the overall victory due to his control and heavier strikes to the head.
A detailed analytical breakdown of Shavkat Rakhmonov's welterweight contest against Ian Garry has highlighted both notable improvements in his game and a significant area of vulnerability that opponents could look to exploit.
Rakhmonov, the undefeated Kazakhstani known as "Nomad," carries a perfect 19-0-0 record and is ranked third in the UFC welterweight division. The 31-year-old stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and trains out of DAR Team. He lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, and supplements his standup with 1.4 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most complete threats.
Geoff Neal, nicknamed "Handz of Steel," appears in the analysis as a reference point for Rakhmonov's development. The 35-year-old American fights out of Fortis MMA, holds a 16-8-0 record, and sits fifteenth in the welterweight rankings. Neal lands an active 5.02 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 50 percent.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov became the only fighter in the UFC to take Garry down in the center of the octagon, doing so twice, underlining a genuine wrestling edge at the elite level.
- His mid-range output improved markedly compared to the Neal fight, with single power shots including jabs, overhand rights, left hooks, and spinning backfists landing effectively.
- Clinch dominance across four of five rounds, including back takes and deep underhook control, proved decisive in swinging close rounds.
- His failure to land a single kick in four of five rounds at long range, conceding that zone almost entirely to Garry's leg kicks, represents a clear tactical gap for future opponents at 170 pounds to target.
The overall scoring analysis placed the bout at roughly 40 points apiece in total, with Garry winning the long-range exchanges by a wide 19.5 to 1.75 margin, while Rakhmonov took mid-range and close-range exchanges and earned the decision through heavier head strikes and superior positional control.
