Shavkat Rakhmonov is a rising star in the UFC’s welterweight division, having turned heads with his unbeaten record and incredible finishing rate. Born in Kazakhstan, he currently represents one of the most thrilling prospects in mixed martial arts.
But still, his overall striking, good grapple skills, and pace have him tabbed as a future champion within the sport. He’s gone 18-0 and finished every one of those fights, so Rakhmonov has been making noise in MMA for the past couple of years since first debuting in the Octagon during 2020. Just a little more about the journey of the fighter, his fighting style, and what awaits his career.
Early Life and Entry into MMA
Shavkat Rakhmonov was born on October 23, 1994, in Kazakhstan, from the city of Shurchi. A Russian martial art which borrows from judo and wrestling, Sambo is what he initiated in the early days of training in martial arts. The early training would give him much confidence in his grappling skills-a base to his fighting style in MMA.
Rise in the UFC: Undefeated and Dominant
Rakhmonov’s UFC debut came in October 2020, and he wasted little time turning heads with a first-round guillotine choke finish of Alex Oliveira. Since then, he has continued to turn heads with victories over some of the toughest competitors in the welterweight division, including Neil Magny and Geoff Neal.
One turning point came in UFC 285 this past March, when he stopped Geoff Neal with a third-round rear-naked choke. The fact that he was able to finish him off after a truly brutal exchange of strikes proved he had the toughness and technical proficiency to make it at the highest levels of MMA.
He followed that up with a statement win over Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and firmly nailed himself into the position of one of the top contenders in the division.
Fighting Style: A Complete Package
Having a Sambo and wrestling background gives him a great grappling base, but he is equally as dangerous on the feet. His striking-most notably his kicks and precise combinations-has been a great weapon in many of his fights.
Usually, his grappling is what dictates his fights, as he’s able to control his opponents on the ground and threaten submissions from a large variety of positions. That makes it tough for opponents even to think about any possible game plan against him. With such high fight IQ and also an ability to adapt mid-fight, he has never been defeated and has earned all eight of his wins via finishes, including 8 by knockout and 10 by submission.
The Road to the Title Obviously, the amount of success Rakhmonov has had naturally leads many to wonder when he’ll fight for gold under the UFC banner. And with him being ranked consistently as one of the top contenders at 170 pounds, he has wasted no time in calling out the very best. In 2024, Rakhmonov showed interest in the winner of the UFC 304 title fight between Belal Muhammad and Leon Edwards. Muhammad won the bout by winning the welterweight title, and now it looks like Rakhmonov would be the man who was next up for the dance with the champion. Belal Muhammad has already accepted the challenge of Rakhmonov, too; now that’s gonna make for an electrifying fight for the title.
What’s Next for Shavkat Rakhmonov?
Dominant performances and an undefeated record have made him, in the eyes of many fans and analysts alike, one of the serious threats to the current welterweight champions. On the trajectory that he has taken thus far, it would not be a huge surprise to see Rakhmonov with UFC gold anytime soon.
Cause of Death of Rich Piana
In a somewhat related question to the one above, which often pops up in search results, combat sports and bodybuilding fans are still wondering what killed bodybuilder Rich Piana, who died in 2017. A well-recognised extreme bodybuilder and an open talker regarding steroid use, Piana fell into a medical emergency as he collapsed while in his house. Two weeks in a coma induced by medicine, Piana died. Indeed, his cause of death was heart disease, but it was noted on the autopsy reports that his long use of performance-enhancing drugs might have led to this condition over time.
Conclusion
Turner of fortunes for Shavkat Rakhmonov in UFC speaks volumes about his dedication, skill, and fight spirit. This undefeated streak, coupled with his well-rounded skillset and obvious drive to be champion, makes him likely to dominate the welterweight division for years to come. The wait is, as such, quite patiently endured by fans anticipating his title fight against Belal Muhammad. The “Nomad” increasingly fascinates the world of MMA with every performance. The belt mücseat or not, Shavkat Rakhmonov is already entrenching his status as one of the most exciting fighters in modern-day mixed martial arts.