A detailed rewatch analysis of Shavkat Rakhmonov's fight with Ian Garry reveals the Kazakh fighter's strengths and weaknesses. Rakhmonov impressed with improved mid-range striking compared to his Neal fight, clinch dominance through the first four rounds, and becoming the only UFC fighter to successfully takedown Garry twice in the center of the cage. However, concerns emerged about his minimal activity at long range, where he threw almost no leg kicks and conceded significant points. The analyst scored the fight essentially even at 40-40 in total points, with Garry accumulating half his score through low and oblique kicks. While giving Rakhmonov the victory based on control and significant head strikes, the analysis notes he cannot afford to concede so much at range against elite competition. The piece positions Rakhmonov as a quarter to half-class above fighters like Garry and Belal Muhammad, but potentially a quarter-class below Islam Makhachev.
