Ahead of his highly anticipated title eliminator at UFC 310, Irish MMA star Ian Garry has been cautioned by former middleweight champion Michael Bisping about the dangers of facing Shavkat Rakhmonov.
According to Bisping, Rakhmonov’s grappling and finishing abilities could hand Garry his first professional loss if he cannot avoid being taken down during their fight.
Garry, known for his striking skills, is stepping into one of the biggest fights of his career after pulling out of a previously scheduled main event against Joaquin Buckley.
The matchup against Rakhmonov was confirmed as the co-main event for UFC 310, with the winner expected to earn a shot at the welterweight title. The fight will be contested over five rounds.
The 26-year-old Garry is riding high on momentum after defeating former Bellator title challenger Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303. However, his upcoming opponent Rakhmonov, also undefeated, has built a reputation as a “boogeyman” in the welterweight division due to his dangerous submission and grappling game.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Michael Bisping shared his thoughts on Garry’s chances against Rakhmonov.
“Ian Garry is probably going to dance around the octagon and use the exact same game plan what he did against Geoff Neal,” Bisping said, referencing Garry’s elusive striking style. “He’s got to keep Shavkat Rakhmonov off him. If he can’t stop the takedown, he will get finished, and that is no disrespect to Ian Garry.”
Bisping added that Garry’s best strategy would be to stay light on his feet and avoid engaging in a grappling battle with the dangerous Rakhmonov.
He explained, “He might be able to dance around, use the reach, use the range, use the movement. Be fast, be elusive, be nice and crisp, be light on his toes, and be dedicated enough to not get involved in a brawl. If he does that, Shavkat is going to get a hold of him. If he gets a hold of him, he’s going to get him down, and if he gets him down, it’s going to be lights out.”
Both fighters enter this contest undefeated, with Garry already making waves as one of Ireland’s brightest MMA prospects since Conor McGregor. Meanwhile, Rakhmonov continues to terrify the division with his well-rounded skill set and dominant performances.
UFC 310, which will feature Garry vs. Rakhmonov as the co-main event, is scheduled to take place next month. This high-stakes clash promises to showcase the best of two welterweight prospects aiming to cement their status as title contenders.
Fans are eager to see if Garry can maintain his composure under the immense pressure or if Rakhmonov will live up to his “boogeyman” reputation.
