Did Ian Garry expose Shavkat Rakhmonov? UFC Champion Belal Muhammad believes UFC 310 revealed blueprint to victory

Shavkat Rakhmonov's grueling match at UFC 310 may have exposed his weakness in front of the world, according to Belal Muhammad.

Did Ian Garry expose Shavkat Rakhmonov? UFC Champion Belal Muhammad believes UFC 310 revealed blueprint to victory

Belal Muhammad confident about defeating Shavkat Rakhmonov after UFC 311 (Image via Imago/UFC X)

The ‘boogeyman’ of the welterweight division, Shavkat Rakhmonov, faced his most stringent challenge in Ian Garry. When two skilled MMA fighters compete, the fight usually turns into a chess match as displayed at UFC 310. Taking notes of the 25 minutes of Rakhmonov’s performance, the welterweight champion Belal Muhammad seemed to have decoded the challenger.

Belal Muhammad is riding a 11-fight unbeaten streak since 2019 and is no stranger to an undefeated prospect. ‘Bully B’, in his UFC 280 encounter, handed Sean Brady his only loss in MMA. Now, it seems like the champion is ready to repeat the same against the Kazakh fighter. Speaking with The Schmo, Muhammad shed light on UFC 310’s co-main event and what he learned about his adversary.

Yeah, I mean, before this fight even happened, I was gonna dominate him. Now, I got an extra 25 mins to break him down even more. I came to the same conclusion: I am gonna dominate him.

Belal Muhammad via Exclusive interview for The Schmo YouTube
YouTube video

Rakhmonov, prior to his fight with Garry at UFC 310, carried an aura of invincibility that may seem too daunting for certain fighters. After the events of 2024’s final PPV card, things have certainly changed a lot. Not only did Garry put on a gutsy performance, but he also threatened ‘Nomad’ with submissions.

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The end result turned out to be polar opposite from what MMA experts previously claimed. Garry spoke about exposing his adversary’s weakness by taking him into the championship rounds. This is something that could work for a high-pace fighter like Muhmmad, as he has the wrestling skills to match Rakhmonov. Soon, the undefeated contender, offered his reaction to the champion’s viral take.

Shavkat Rakhmonov reacts to Belal Muhammad’s wild claim about his performance at UFC 310

The 30-year-old Kazakh fighter continues his unbeaten run in the UFC with a tough victory over Garry. The fight spoiled his 100% finish rate record, but ‘Nomad’ seems certain about winning the title next. Speaking with Caroline Pearce of TNT Sports, Rakhmonov reacted to the rival’s viral take.

Shavkat Rakhmonov dismissed Belal Muhammad's threat after UFC 310 performance
Shavkat Rakhmonov dismissed Belal Muhammad’s threat after UFC 310 performance (Image via MMA Fighting)

Rakhmonov seems unperturbed by the champion’s opinion of his performance at UFC 310. Instead, he seemed quite confident about becoming first Kazakh-born UFC champion in his next outing. Reacting to the comments made by ‘Bully B’, the undefeated fighter suggested he will do the talking inside the cage.

I want Belal to be ready. With god’s help I am gonna bring this belt back to Kazakhstan…. We’ll see. The only way to find out is to face me inside the octagon.

Shavkat Rakhmonov via Exclusive Interview for TNT Sports YouTube
YouTube video

‘Nomad’ has cemented his place as the number 1 contender for the next crack at the UFC welterweight gold. The duo even had a face off after the co-main event to hype up the future encounter. UFC boss, Dana White, continues to fill out cards for the first half of 2025, leaving room for more events. Fans can expect the duo to be booked for a clash in the first half of next year.

Related: Shavkat Rakhmonov Net Worth, UFC salary, Endorsements and House