by Michael Bisping says Ian Machado Garry “would be done” at UFC 310 if he couldn’t stop Shavkat Rakhmonov’s takedowns.
Rakhmonov, one of the UFC’s most formidable contenders, is 18-0 with 18 stoppage victories, and the Kazakh was scheduled to challenge welterweight champion Belal Muhammad on Saturday (Dec. 7).
However, a bone infection ruled Muhammad out of UFC 310, leading Machado Garry to intervene. The Irishman is also undefeated (15-0, 8 saves) and has already trained with Rakhmonov.
Rumors are flying about Rakhmonov’s alleged success during their training sessions, but Machado Garry seems confident ahead of the No. 1 contender’s fight. However, former champion Bisping has issued a warning to the 27-year-old.
“I’ve said it before, you have to have a lot of respect for Ian Garry,” the Briton said on his YouTube channel. “He didn’t have to take this fight, but can he stop the takedown?
“It seems like all I talk about here is takedowns. Shavkat Rakhmonov is very big for the division, as is Ian Garry. They are both 6-foot-3 and are both capable forwards.
“Ian Garry will probably dance around the Octagon and use the exact same game plan as he did against Geoff Neal. [whom Machado Garry beat on points this year]. He must keep Shavkat Rakhmonov away from him.
“If he can’t stop the takedown, he’ll be done.” This is no disrespect to Ian Garry. He might be able to dance, use reach, use reach, use movement, be fast, be elusive, be nice and lively, be light on your toes and to be dedicated enough not to allow yourself to get involved in a fight. .
“If he [gets into a brawl]Shavkat will catch up with him. If he manages to catch him, he will make him fall. If he drops it, it will be lights out. Watch Shavkat’s last fight: Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, a man who has spent his entire life stopping takedowns. But what did Shavkat do? He fought his way into a clinch, then slowly but surely and methodically worked his way back down.
“So the story in [this] the fight is simple: can Ian Garry stop the takedown? Because if he can’t, someone’s “O” will disappear, and it will probably be Ian Garry’s. [But] he has a path to victory using stand, sticking and moving; the crowd will boo, but who cares about the crowd? Winning is all that matters.
Machado Garry defeated Neal by split decision in February, before securing a unanimous decision victory over Michael “Venom” Page in June.
Rakhmonov, 30, last fought in December 2023, submitting Thompson in the second round – after submitting Neal in the third round last March.
In the main event of UFC 310, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defends his belt against UFC debutant Kai Asakura, who previously held bantamweight gold in Rizin.
