Ian Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov carried an intriguing history into their UFC 310 bout, having once trained together at Kill Cliff FC. The two unbeaten fighters had spent countless hours sharpening their skills against each other in sparring sessions. This history fueled excitement among fans, who were eager to see which fighter would suffer their first career defeat.

In the end, it was the Irishman who saw his perfect record come to an end, while the Kazakh standout continued his dominant rise. With another impressive victory, Rakhmonov now stands as a top contender for the welterweight title against champion Belal Muhammad. However, former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen feels ‘Nomad’ might be in trouble in his next fight.

Shavkat Rakhmonov for the first time looked beatable at UFC 310 feels Sonnen

Since joining the UFC, Rakhmonov has dismantled one opponent after another, showcasing his ability to adapt to different styles and impose his will. His calm demeanor inside the Octagon belies the ferocity of his attacks. Each fight seems to underline his composure, intelligence, and sheer physicality, setting him apart from his peers. Fans and analysts alike marvel at his ability to finish fights without ever seeming rushed or reckless. However, he failed to finish Ian Garry in his last fight which has raised a lot of questions in the MMA community.

As per the scorecards, Shavkat Rakhmonov won by unanimous decision—48-47, 48-47, 48-47. But there was a time in the fight when ‘The Future’ took the Kazakh fighter’s back and nearly submitted ‘Nomad’. Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen sat down to discuss the fight on their ‘Good Guy/ Bad Guy’ podcast. The pair praised the Irish fighter for his performance and felt he could have won the fight. On the other hand, they reminded Rakhmonov that a performance like this against the champion might not be enough.

Speaking to ‘DC’, Chael Sonnen shared his honest opinion on the fight and said, “Rakhmonov for the first time did look human. I do believe if you are Belal Muhammad and you are on the outside you’re watching that, and I do believe your confidence is rising a little bit. I think the odds on that fight – Rakhmonov-Muhammad – likely got a little tighter.” The 30-year-old was able to maintain his unbeaten record but it seems he has a tough task ahead of him.

Belal Muhammad was present in the arena to witness the co-main event between both fighters. After Rakhmonov won the clash he invited the champion for a friendly face-off. However, what followed was complete chaos as the security stopped him from entering the Octagon before Rogan asked him to let them in. “Security doesn’t know he’s the champ, let him in.”, said Rogan. Conor McGregor was the first one to react to it with a laugh-ridden voice note on X. Now former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman shared his opinion on the whole scenario.

Belal Muhammad’s embarrassment at UFC 310 gets verdict from Kamaru Usman

Conor McGregor has never been shy about voicing his criticism of Belal Muhammad, frequently taking jabs at his fighting style. This time, McGregor chimed in with a voice message, mocking the treatment Muhammad received. He remarked, “The security doesn’t even know he’s the champ. I’m not surprised. He’s an a—hole. Shut your mouth. You actually got into the ring, and they don’t even recognize you as the champion.” The situation also caught the attention of Kamaru Usman, who was initially in talks to compete at UFC 310. Having his own history of rivalry with Muhammad, Usman couldn’t resist taking notice of the drama.

Kamaru Usman, while amused by the fact that UFC security failed to recognize the champion, acknowledged Rogan’s role in diffusing the tension. Commenting on the incident, Kamaru Usman, on his ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast said, “Joe Rogan had to vouch for you to get past security. Did you hear him? He said, ‘He’s the champion, let him in.’ And I know Joe didn’t mean it in a bad way at all.” The entire situation did not affect the champion and he seems unfazed by all the criticism towards him, even if unwarranted.

Muhammad is currently focused on his recovery and wants to return to action really soon. He is excited to defend his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov and it seems he already has an upper hand. Who do you think will win between the two? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.