LAS VEGAS – Ian Machado Garry is not in a sane state of mind, at least that’s what his opponent Shavkat Rakhmonov thinks.
Rakhmonov (15-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) takes on Machado Garry (18-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in a No. 1 contender fight at welterweight in the co-main event of UFC 310 – which takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. A lot has been said by the two undefeated title contenders, but Rakhmonov thinks some of the specific comments Machado Garry made are a bit crazy.
“I don’t think that’s how it’s going to happen; I think he’s delusional,” Rakhmonov said through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day when asked to react to Machado Garry’s stoppage prediction. “I think I’m going to beat him and get to my goal.”
Out of his 15 professional wins, Machado Garry has stopped eight of his opponents. Rakhmonov thinks Machado Garry is a quality foe, but is hesitant to call him the toughest test of his fighting career.
“He’s undefeated, and he’s beat good guys such as Geoff Neal and Michael ‘Venum’ Page, but if he’s the toughest test of my career, the fight will show it. I can’t say right now,” Rakhmonov said.
Predictions and trash talk aside, Rakhmonov respects the Irish fighter for taking the fight with him. Machado Garry was supposed to fight Joaquim Buckley on Dec. 14 in Tampa, Fla., but stepped in for an injured Belal Muhammad, who was supposed to defend his belt against Rakhmonov.
“First I was surprised he accepted the fight with Buckley, that he didn’t wait to fight me, but then I respect the fact that he took the fight with me, unlike others.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.
