“Shavkat by death” – Stephen Thompson silences ‘ducking’ allegations by accepting dangerous Shavkat Rakhmonov fight

UFC 296 will have a stacked card similar to UFC 290 and UFC 294 to close out the year.

“Shavkat by death” – Stephen Thompson silences ‘ducking’ allegations by accepting dangerous Shavkat Rakhmonov fight

Stephen Thompson vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296 (via Imago)

UFC 296 features the showdown between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington as the main event. Dana White announced the comeback of Paddy Pimblett on the same card. However, it will also feature Shavat Rakhmonov’s return to the octagon. He will fight Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson in a welterweight bout.

Stephen Thompson silenced allegations that he was ducking fighters by accepting the most dangerous matchup in the division. Recently, rumors began to spread that he ducked young star Ian Garry. Many criticized Thompson for ducking Garry. Thompson looked for fights that could land him the title shot. However, the haters can no longer attack Thompson with that anymore.

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Shavkat Rakhmonov is the most dangerous welterweight in the division. He has good striking coupled with excellent grappling. Shavkat has a perfect finish rate in the UFC. He has finished all his opponents brutally. Thompson struggles with wrestlers at times. He lost to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad due to his lack of wrestling skills. Shavkat could use the same to defeat Thompson.

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Coincidentally, Tony Ferguson will fight Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett on the same card. Fans claimed that the UFC tried to cut two veteran fighters from the roster by making these bouts. Maybe the days are numbered for Thompson and Ferguson. Only time will what happens next.

Related: “I’m the best striker in welterweight,” Conor McGregor’s compatriot Ian Garry calls out Stephen Thompson to prove a point

Fans react to the fight between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson should have taken a striker as his next opponent at UFC 296. He has struggled in the past against wrestlers. However, he accepted a fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov in December. Fans did not like the matchmaking. Check out some of the fan reactions:

Stephen Thompson
Stephen Thompson (via MMA News)
https://twitter.com/HonestMMA_/status/1705293925253029907
https://twitter.com/DeebowrldBurna/status/1705296414182441145
https://twitter.com/CletusCletus247/status/1705295374729003135

Some fans claimed that Wonderboy would win via KO. Shavkat should immediately go for the wrestling when he fights Thompson. He should avoid a standup battle against Wonderboy. Could this be the last fight of Wonderboy in the UFC?

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