A detailed breakdown highlights Shavkat Rakhmonov's performance against Ian Garry, noting significant improvements. Rakhmonov showed progression at middle range compared to his fight with Geoff Neal, regularly landing single powerful strikes on Garry with jabs, overhand rights, left hooks, and spinning backfists. He dominated the clinch for the first four rounds, taking Garry's back and controlling him in deep underhooks. Rakhmonov became the only UFC fighter to take Garry down twice in the center of the cage and successfully controlled him from top position. The analysis notes concerns about Rakhmonov's low activity at long range, where he threw almost no kicks and lost significant points. Despite this, the analyst scored the fight for Rakhmonov based on his dominance at middle and close range, the two most important distances in MMA.
A recent technical breakdown of Shavkat Rakhmonov's welterweight clash with Ian Garry has drawn attention to the undefeated Kazakhstani's continued evolution as a mixed martial artist, with analysts pointing to meaningful improvements in his mid-range striking game.
Rakhmonov, 31, enters the spotlight as one of the division's most compelling figures. The six-foot-four orthodox fighter from Kazakhstan carries a perfect 19-0-0 record and currently sits ranked third in the welterweight division under the banner of DAR Team. He lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent — an elite figure — and supplements his standup with 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
The analysis notes that compared to his previous outing against Geoff Neal, Rakhmonov showed clear progression at middle range against Garry, regularly landing single powerful strikes including jabs, overhand rights, left hooks, and spinning backfists. He also established consistent clinch control across the first four rounds, taking Garry's back and working deep underhooks to neutralize his opponent. Notably, Rakhmonov became the only UFC fighter to take Garry down twice in the center of the cage, and maintained top control effectively once there.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's clinch dominance and grappling control add a new layer to an already dangerous striking arsenal, making him a more complete threat at 170 pounds
- His ability to take Garry down in open space distinguishes him from the rest of the welterweight field, where Garry had previously been resistant to takedowns
- The identified weakness at long range — minimal kicking output and lost points at distance — gives a clear technical scouting note for future opponents and coaching staff
- Ranked third in the welterweight division, Rakhmonov's performance reinforces his case as a genuine title contender in a deep 170-pound landscape
The analyst ultimately scored the contest for Rakhmonov, crediting his dominance at middle and close range as the decisive factor, while acknowledging that his near-absence of activity at long range remains an area requiring attention.
