Who is Shavkat Rakhmonov? Find out all about the dark horse of the UFC welterweight division

Shavkat Rakhmonov is fast becoming a name to watch in the UFC's welterweight division.

Rakhmonov began his MMA career in 2016 and quickly established himself as a dominant force on the regional circuit, winning his first 12 fights with 10 finishes. He was signed by the UFC in 2020 and made his promotional debut on October 24, 2020, at UFC 254, where he defeated Alex Oliveira via submission in the first round.

Since then, Rakhmonov has continued to impress in the UFC, earning another submission victory over Neil Magny in June 2022. The fighter currently holds a professional record of 16 wins and 0 losses, with eight of his victories coming by way of knockouts and another 8 via submission.

The Kazakh fighter is known for his well-rounded skillset, with a background in combat sambo and a strong grappling game. He is also a proficient striker with knockout power, making him a dangerous opponent for any fighter in the welterweight division.

Currently placed at number ten in the welterweight rankings, Shavkat Rakhmonov is set to compete against Geoff Neal in the main card event at UFC 285, which will be headlined by the Jones vs. Gane heavyweight championship fight.

Although Rakhmonov has had an impressive record and early success in the UFC, he is still not widely known and is often considered a dark horse in the welterweight division. Nevertheless, many analysts and fans believe that he has the potential to become a future contender or champion in the UFC, given his talent and potential.

The upcoming fight between Rakhmonov and Neal at UFC 285 is highly anticipated, as both fighters strive to move closer to a title shot. With Rakhmonov maintaining his unbeaten record, fans are eagerly anticipating whether he can establish himself as a serious contender in the UFC's welterweight division.

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Shavkat Rakhmonov shares his prediction for the upcoming Jones vs. Gane heavyweight championship fight at UFC 285

In an exclusive interview with SportskeedaMMA, Shavkat Rakhmonov shared his prediction for the upcoming heavyweight championship fight at UFC 285 between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.

'Nomad' expressed uncertainty about Jones' current condition due to his extended hiatus from fighting. Rakhmonov acknowledged Gane's proficiency as a striker and claimed that Jones' only chance of winning the fight would be to take it to the ground.

"I don't really know in what shape Jon Jones is in right now. He hasn't fought for such a long time. Ciryl is a great striker. The only chance for Jones is to take this fight to the ground. If it is going to be a standup fight, Ciryl Gane is going to win."

In Rakhmonov's opinion, if the fight remains on foot, Gane will likely emerge victorious. Fans are eagerly anticipating the fight, which promises to be a thrilling and closely contested bout between two of the UFC's most accomplished heavyweight fighters.

Check out Shavkat Rakhmonov's exclusive interview with SportskeedaMMA below: