UFC 310: ‘Everything on the line’ for Ian Machado Garry against Shavkat Rakhmonov

With 18 finishes – six of them in the UFC – it’s easy to see why people are referring to Rakhmonov as The Boogeyman.

He was originally set to face champion Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title, but was left looking for another opponent when the American pulled out of the bout with injury.

According to Rakhmonov, nobody would agree to fight him, including former champion Kamaru Usman and interim title-holder Colby Covington, until Machado Garry stepped up three weeks ago.

The co-main event is a five-round contest and will determine the number-one contender for Muhammad’s title when he returns from injury in the next few months.

It is an opportunity Machado Garry has been eyeing since he started training as a 10-year-old.

“I was a young kid sat in Dublin, Ireland dreaming about being a UFC champion. I’m one fight away from getting that opportunity and I’m going to take it with everything I possibly can and by any means necessary,” said Machado Garry.

“He’s gone out there and dominated everyone he’s ever fought against and I’m excited to prove that I’m better than that man.”

Machado Garry’s last outing was a decision win over Britain’s Michael ‘Venom’ Page in June with the victory seeing him move up to seventh in the UFC’s welterweight rankings.

He already had a fight scheduled against ninth-ranked American Joaquin Buckley on 14 December, so is facing Rakhmonov on short notice after the UFC’s reshuffle.

Rakhmonov is third in the rankings so opting to fight him was a no-brainer, according to Machado Garry.

“If I fight Joaquin, the risk is I lose, the reward is I win and move one step up the rankings. With Shavkat, the risk is I lose, the reward is I’m the number-one contender in the world and I’m next in line for that belt,” he added.

“So the risk and reward is worth it – go out there, get motivated, get excited and earn the right to be next in line for that belt.”