Michael Chiesa sees Shavkat Rakhmonov’s finishing streak coming to an end at UFC 310.
Unbeaten welterweights Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Ian Machado Garry (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) square off in a five-round co-main event Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
A UFC analyst and welterweight, Chiesa picks Rakhmonov to beat Machado Garry but doesn’t believe he’ll stop him.
“I’ll keep it short, you know? There’s some sparring footage that came out of Ian Garry and Shavkat,” Chiesa told Sportskeeda. “I think that they’re both going to be very familiar with each other, and I will go out on a limb and say I think this fight goes to decision. I think these guys are familiar with each other enough to where they’re going to negate a few of the attacks, and it’s going to be a matter of who can come in there and throw a new wrinkle into their game, to throw off the opponent.
“I think for Shavkat, if he can find a way to get this fight to the mat, I think that could benefit him a lot. And for Ian, I think that it’s just going to be a matter of, I think that if he can change stances a little bit, use the kicks, I think he can have a lot of success. But when it’s all said and done, and the dust settles, I think Shavkat walks out with his hand raised and is the rightful No. 1 contender.”
Chiesa (17-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) competes on the same night as Rakhmonov vs. Garry when he takes on Max Griffin. In his most recent outing, the Season 15 “Ultimate Fighter” winner snapped a three-fight losing skid by submitting Tony Ferguson in the first round at UFC on ESPN 7 in August.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.