Ian Garry, the undefeated welterweight contender, recently admitted that fellow undefeated fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov submitted him during a sparring session years ago. This revelation comes just days before Garry competes in a high-stakes title eliminator at UFC 310, taking place this weekend.
Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT, Garry addressed rumors about the sparring incident at Kill Cliff FC, confirming Rakhmonov’s claims while adding context to the situation.
“Yes [Shavkat Rakhmonov submitted me], it’s training,” Garry said during the interview. “If I told you about all the people that I absolutely burned and choked in training, you would say I’m the best fighter in the world already. But the truth is we’re all learning and practicing in training.”
Rakhmonov, known for his perfect finishing record of 18-0, had previously spoken about choking out Garry in a training session held in Florida. Garry, however, isn’t too caught up in the past and insists that he has evolved into a completely different fighter since then.
“So for me, if he wants to hold on to anything from two or three years ago, then hold onto it,” Garry added. “But I promise I’m a different beast than what I was at that point in time. I’m going to go out here and I’m gonna put a hole on his head on Saturday night.”
The Stakes
The co-main event at UFC 310 is a critical bout for both fighters as they chase welterweight title contention. Garry, a rising star from Ireland, is currently 15-0 in his MMA career.
His last fight saw him dominate kickboxing standout Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 in June. Meanwhile, Rakhmonov is riding high off a submission victory over two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 last December.
Both fighters bring their undefeated records into the cage, each displaying unique and dangerous skills. Garry is widely praised for his striking, while Rakhmonov is considered one of the most well-rounded and lethal competitors in the division.
With so much on the line, the clash between these two welterweight stars could determine who moves closer to title glory in 2024. Fans can expect fireworks when they step into the Octagon this Saturday night.
