Ian Machado Garry has confirmed that he was submitted by Shavkat Rakhmonov when they sparred together.
Garry takes on Rakhmonov in the co-main event of UFC 310 this Saturday in Las Vegas.
He was a last-minute replacement at UFC 310 for Belal Muhammad, who withdrew from his title bout with Rakhmonov following a gruesome bone infection in his foot.
This made room for Garry to step in for the injured welterweight champion as he now takes on Rakhmonov in UFC 310’s co-main bout.
Alexandre Pantoja puts his flyweight title on the line for the third time against UFC debutant Kai Asakura in the headline act.
Pantoja told talkSPORT.com exclusively that he aims to ‘kill’ every opponent he meets in the octagon, but added there is a ’50 per cent chance’ that either himself or Asakura comes out victorious at the weekend.
Garry joined talkSPORT’s Drive with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on Wednesday to discuss his upcoming bout, where he admitted Rakhmonov has come out on top of him before.
“Yes [it did happen] It’s training,” Garry said.
“If I told you about all the people that I absolutely burned and choked in training you would say I’m the best fighter in the world already, but the truth is we’re all learning and practising in training.
“So for me, if he wants to hold on to anything from two or three years ago, then hold onto it.
“But I promise I’m a different beast than what I was at that point in time.
“I’m going to go out here and I’m gonna put a hole on his head on Saturday night.”
Garry was then pressed on how he is going to win his bout with Rakhmonov at UFC 310.
“By just having fun,” he added. “I am just different and gifted and more talented and the more I smile and enjoy myself the worse of a night It’s going to be for Shavkat Rakhmonov.”
If Garry beats Rakhmonov he will be in prime position for a world title shot against Muhammad in the near future.
But the task at hand is definitely not an easy one, considering his Kazakh opponent is unbeaten in 18 professional MMA bouts, with a 100 per cent UFC finish record.
‘Nomad’ made his UFC debut in October 2020 and has submitted all-but one of his opponents via a rear naked or guillotine choke.
In his last octagon outing, Rakhmonov made easy work of Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.
He finished the American in the second round at UFC 296, in what was the American’s first-ever loss via submission during his 12-year career.
“If he’s hanging onto something like that in training, from two or three years ago, then guess what – do it on Saturday night,” Garry said.
“Do it underneath the bright lights, do it when it matters most.
“I promise you right now he is not ready for the speed. He’s going to look at me and go: ‘Oh my God, this guy is beautiful what do I do?’
“He’s gonna be left speechless. He’s not going to know what to do. He’s going to see this face, blonde hair, he’s gonna see how fast I move and go: ‘Wow, this kid his special,’”
Garry, however, is also unbeaten in 15 MMA bouts since turning pro in February 2019.
As a former Cage Warriors champion, ‘The Future’ definitely has it in his locker to upset Rakhmonov at UFC 310.
