A detailed breakdown of Shavkat Rakhmonov's fight with Ian Garry reveals the Kazakhstani fighter's dominance in mid-range striking and clinch work across the first four rounds. Rakhmonov successfully landed diverse strikes including jabs, overhand rights, left hooks and spinning backfists while controlling distance effectively. He became the only UFC fighter to secure takedowns on Garry in the center of the cage, accomplishing this twice and achieving mount position. The analysis notes Rakhmonov dominated the clinch and mid-range exchanges but conceded significant points on the outside due to limited leg kick offense. Despite an even overall strike count of approximately 40-40, Rakhmonov's control of the more critical fighting distances—mid-range for damage and clinch for control—justified his victory, though his lack of activity at long range remains a concern for future high-level matchups.
A technical breakdown of Shavkat Rakhmonov's performance against Ian Garry has drawn attention to the Kazakhstani welterweight's command of mid-range striking and clinch work through the first four rounds of their contest.
Rakhmonov, nicknamed "Nomad," enters the analysis as one of the most complete fighters in the 170-pound division. The 31-year-old from Kazakhstan carries a perfect 19-0-0 professional record and holds the number-three ranking at welterweight. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, he brings both physical and technical advantages into every fight. His striking accuracy sits at 60 percent, and he averages 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting a well-rounded offensive game built on his DAR Team training.
The breakdown highlights that Rakhmonov successfully mixed jabs, overhand rights, left hooks, and spinning backfists while controlling distance in the mid-range. He also made history of a kind in the Garry matchup by becoming the only UFC fighter to take Garry down in the center of the cage, doing so twice and advancing to mount position on at least one occasion.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's clinch and mid-range dominance proved decisive despite an approximately even overall strike count of 40-40
- His ability to secure takedowns and mount against Garry underlines a grappling threat few welterweights have posed to the Irishman
- The analysis flags a notable gap at long range, where limited leg kick output allowed Garry to accumulate points on the outside
- That defensive hole at distance is identified as a potential vulnerability in future matchups against elite opposition
Despite controlling the exchanges that generated the most damage and positional control, Rakhmonov's relative inactivity at long range remains an area opponents at the highest level could look to exploit going forward.
