Ian Garry vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov is a Christmas gift MMA fans did not see coming. Two undefeated welterweight prospects on the rise, the promotion certainly was not planning on pitting them against each other this soon. It took reigning champion Belal Muhammad pulling out with a bone infection for the UFC to put this fight together. And it makes sense, since styles make fights, and this fight could really make or break it for either star.

After being sidelined for a year, Rakhmonov is hungry for a title shot but finds himself facing a formidable opponent in Garry. Meanwhile, Garry has already fought twice this year, building significant momentum and leaving fans eager to see how he measures up against Rakhmonov. Before diving into predictions, let’s take a closer look at the records and skillsets of the Irish prospect and the Kazakh sensation to analyze what the future might hold for these two rising welterweights.

UFC 310: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry stats

Ireland’s Ian Garry grew up idolizing his countryman Conor McGregor. Like McGregor, Garry developed a passion for striking and carved out his own path in the world of MMA. Back in 2021, ‘The Future’ joined the UFC after an impressive stint in Cage Warriors, a London-based, Irish-owned MMA promotion. During his time there, the Irish prospect remained undefeated, winning all seven of his fights, including a title victory against Jack Grant, which became his ticket to the UFC.

Ian Garry proved UFC boss Dana White’s decision right by delivering a spectacular knockout in his debut fight, finishing his opponent in just one round. Over the next seven fights, he secured two finishes and five decision wins. His 15-0 resume includes the likes of Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Michael Venom Page.

In contrast, Shavkat Rakhmonov, the former M-1 Welterweight Champion, is no less impressive than Garry. After making waves in regional circuits, particularly in Russia’s M-1 promotion, the Kazakh star earned the nickname ‘Nomad’ for his ability to adapt and thrive far from home. His journey eventually brought him thousands of kilometers away to the United States, where he joined the UFC.

Under the UFC banner, Shavkat Rakhmonov has emerged as one of the most feared fighters in the welterweight division. What makes him a dangerous matchup? It’s the fact that he finished his opponents in all 18 of his career wins. His six UFC wins comprise five submissions and one TKO finish. His dominance has drawn comparisons to fellow Central Asian fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, particularly for his wrestling prowess. Interestingly enough, Khabib’s father Abdulmanap trained Shavkat in his early days as a fighter.

Even the division’s top contenders are cautious about facing him, further cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with. But Garry is different. He jumped at the chance to face Rakhmonov after Muhammad pulled out. The pair have trained together before and Garry is confident he can take the Kazakh star’s ‘O.’

Now that we are aware of the records both undefeated fighters carry, let’s finalize our predictions and see what Dana White has in store for us at T-Mobile Arena.

Rakhmonov vs. Garry breakdown and prediction

In their upcoming welterweight clash, Shavkat Rakhmonov is the fan favorite, with many already considering him one of the most exciting prospects in the division. His 100% finishing record backs this claim. In contrast, Ian Garry enters UFC 310 as the underdog. The reason for this is clear: Garry’s recent performances have been labeled ‘boring’ by fans, particularly his fight against Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 304 in Manchester. Despite securing the win, Garry’s performance failed to capture the audience’s excitement, and even Dana White expressed disappointment.

In contrast, Shavkat Rakhmonov has become one of the most terrifying finishers in the welterweight division, with his striking and submissions making him a dangerous opponent. His skills put him on par with other top contenders like Khamzat Chimaev. However, Ian Garry’s recent focus on improving his grappling skills at Chute Boxe in Brazil could make for an interesting matchup, potentially giving him a chance to contend with Rakhmonov’s grappling expertise.

Yet, outside of that, it’s hard to see how Ian Garry would overcome Shavkat Rakhmonov, especially given Shavkat’s ability to choke out opponents, whether it’s via armbar, guillotine, or rear-naked choke. ‘Nomad’ is also very durable, and can pull back a win as he showed in the Geoff Neal fight. Garry on the other hand plays smart and is not hesitant to take a boring approach if that is what will get him the win.

While it’s difficult to predict the exact outcome, everyone knows that someone’s ‘O’ has got to go. Now, all eyes will be on the December 7 showdown, as Rakhmonov and Garry square off to keep their undefeated records intact and battle for a title shot.

What’s your prediction? Ian Garry or Shavkat Rakhmonov? Drop your thoughts below.