In an intense showdown at UFC 310 held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Ian Machado Garry’s unbeaten streak ended as he was defeated by Shavkat Rakhmonov. The co-main event concluded with Rakhmonov winning by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the match 48-47 in his favor.
Rakhmonov and Garry, who were once training partners, showed great respect for each other during the fight, which resulted in a cautious and measured approach from both fighters. Garry, a skilled striker, struggled to unleash his usual techniques effectively against Rakhmonov, who employed a strategy of pinning Garry against the fence and landing precise punches.
Notably, Garry found his rhythm in Round 3, landing significant strikes after separating from Rakhmonov. An unusual moment occurred when Garry switched to a new pair of shorts between the third and fourth rounds due to an apparent malfunction.
In Round 4, Rakhmonov took Garry down again, dominating the position and delivering ground strikes. The momentum shifted in the final round when Garry almost secured a rear-naked choke on Rakhmonov, only for Rakhmonov to escape and return to his feet. Garry managed to land a hard blow just before the fight concluded but could not turn the tide.
With this victory, Rakhmonov maintains his perfect record and is poised for a potential title shot against Belal Muhammad, who faceoff with him post-fight. Meanwhile, Garry, now holding a record of 18-1, faces the opportunity to learn and grow from this experience.
UFC 310 also featured other notable results, including Ciryl Gane defeating Alexander Volkov via split decision and Bryce Mitchell achieving a knockout over Kron Gracie in the third round.
This loss, while a setback for Garry, can serve as a catalyst for growth as he learns from this highly competitive matchup, indicating that even the best athletes can face challenges that provide valuable lessons for the future. The fight card overall showcased the thrilling nature of mixed martial arts and the potential for exciting matchups ahead.