The UFC 310 co-main event will see Shavkat Rakhmonov take on Ian Machado Garry in what will likely be a title eliminator at 170 pounds. Google's AI, Gemini, has broken down the Rakhmonov-Garry clash and has offered a decisive prediction.
Gemini predicted that Rakhmonov would emerge victorious via submission. The fight was deemed interesting, featuring two unbeaten combatants with starkly different fighting styles.
Garry's skillful striking was highlighted, including his deftness at controlling the pace and landing clean strikes. That said, it pointed out that Rakhmonov's skill set is well-rounded, with excellent grappling prowess and a dangerous submission threat.
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According to Gemini, Rakhmonov is favored against Garry at UFC 310, owing to three main reasons, namely wrestling dominance, submission expertise and striking power.
Firstly, it was noted that 'Nomad' has consistently displayed grappling dominance, amassing various submission stoppages. The Kazakh fighter's ability to take opponents to the ground and control them there hands him a considerable edge.
Secondly, Rakhmonov's submission arsenal was labeled as especially dangerous, as he has various techniques that he can employ to secure the finish.
Thirdly, Garry was appreciated as a skilled striker, but it was underscored that Rakhmonov has considerable power in his kicks and punches. Gemini suggested that 'Nomad's' power could be the difference-maker, particularly if the matchup enters the later rounds.
It explained that although Garry is talented, Rakhmonov's greater grappling and well-rounded skill set make him the clear favorite. The likely outcome was listed as Rakhmonov neutralizing the supposed striking advantage Garry has and eventually bagging a submission win.
A couple of additional elements at play in the UFC 310 showdown were Rakhmonov's recent inactivity and Garry's progression. An allusion was made to the fact that Rakhmonov's most recent MMA bout came back in December 2023. Meanwhile, Garry has competed twice in 2024, most recently in June.
On that note, Rakhmonov's apparent inactivity could hinder his performance, but his track record shows that he'll likely come well-prepared to fight.
In a nutshell, the matchup was hailed as a high-stakes clash between two talented fighters. Though Garry could produce an upset, Gemini reiterated that Rakhmonov's overall skill set and greater grappling give him the advantage.
UFC 310: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry has major title implications
Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0) was initially booked to fight UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad for the 170-pound strap in the headlining match of UFC 310 (Dec. 7). However, a bone infection ruled Muhammad out. Subsequently, Ian Machado Garry (15-0) was booked to face 'Nomad' at UFC 310, and the fight was moved to the co-main event slot.
The winner is expected to face Muhammad for his title when he returns in 2025.
'Nomad' recently jibed at a few top welterweights for supposedly ducking him. Taking to X, Garry concurred and said:
"I agree this division is very disappointing - but you and I knew this day would come, let's go put on a show..."