Shavkat Rakhmonov was initially preparing to face Belal Muhammad at UFC 310, but when the champion pulled out due to an injury, it was the perfect opportunity for #7 ranked Ian Garry to grab. The upcoming bout carries high stakes as both will be fighting for the number one contender spot. But here’s the thing: Rakhmonov is 18-0 and Garry is 15-0, which means that on Dec. 7, fight fans will witness one fighter’s undefeated record finally break.

Garry’s ability to control the pace of a fight and pick his shots with precision has made him a standout in the welterweight division. On the other hand, Rakhmonov is a finisher and has not let any of his fights hang on to a decision win. So it looks like UFC 310 will be a tough one for either of them.

Well, Ian Garry took to his YouTube channel to share his thoughts on his upcoming fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “I am fighting the scariest man in the division on December 7. Everybody’s turning him down. 18-0, 18 finishes. That excites me. That doesn’t scare me, that excites me. Everyone in the world thinks the guy is the boogie man in the division. I am going to go out there on December 7 and shock everyone else’s world. Because in my world, I am going to beat him,” the 27-year-old stated.

Train. Fight. Learn. Grow. This is his mentality leading up to the Rakhmonov fight.

“New opponent, new date—everything flipped on its head. That to me is exciting. I operate best in a short period of time… The opponent change and the date change, changes a lot. I just love to fight, and this is an opportunity to go out there and prove that I am better than everyone believes and knows I am.”

Garry was initially slated to face Joaquin Buckley but was pulled out from the fight to face Rakhmonov. If the Irishman capitalizes on the opportunity and walks away with a win, not only will his ranking improve, but he could demand a fight against the champion, too. ‘The Future’ is confident he will win.

“This guy has got a 100% finish rate. I have got a 100% win rate. When I step into the Octagon, all I do is win,” he stated confidently. But here’s the thing: If the Irishman wants to win against Rakhmonov, he will have to make sure to have impeccable takedown defense. After all, ‘Nomad’ has great wrestling capabilities, with his primary style being Sambo. Even Michael Bisping agrees with us!

On his YouTube channel, he said, “I’ve said this before, you’ve got to have a lot of respect for Ian Garry. He didn’t have to take this fight but can he stop the takedown? It seems like all I’m talking about here is takedowns. Shavkat Rakhmonov, he’s very tall for the division, as is Ian Garry. They’re both 6-foot-3 and they’re both competent strikers.”

“Ian Garry’s probably going to dance around the octagon and use the exact same game plan what he did against Geoff Neal. He’s got to keep Shavkat Rakhmonov off him. If he can’t stop the takedown, he will get finished. That’s no disrespect to Ian Garry.”

As it now stands, two of the most talented fighters in the division will be looking to put on a show for the fans. Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen is also excited about the epic battle. He feels it is a big opportunity to fight for the title next.

Chael Sonnen feels UFC 310 will be a decisive crossroad in their respective careers!

“I will take his 0, and I will take that belt.” These were the exact words of Ian Garry last month. In fact, both men have trained with each other in the past, but are now looking to assert their dominance in the division. This high-stakes matchup not only pits two of the division’s most promising stars against each other but also offers a glimpse into the future of the 170-pound weight class.

The Kazakh fighter is a master of all aspects of MMA, seamlessly blending striking and grappling to overwhelm his opponents.

However, ‘The Future’ is unfazed by all such claims and is hoping to end his winning run. No wonder former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen is super excited to witness the fight and said, “You submit or knock out every man you’ve ever faced. Can we all agree that you should be fighting for some kind of title?”

‘The American Gangster’ now believes that the winner should be fighting for the title next and further added, “It is a sneaky good fight but it’s a sneakily important fight. The winner of this, make no mistake, will be fighting against Muhammad for the title.”

When these two unbeaten warriors meet, it’s more than a fight—it’s a statement. The winner will take a massive leap toward welterweight greatness. Who do you think will win between the stellar duo at UFC 310? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.