Shavkat Rakhmonov Record: 19-0-0

UFC run

Rakhmonov debuted in dominant fashion at UFC 254 in October 2020, submitting Alex Oliveira with a first-round guillotine. He followed with a second-round rear-naked choke of the experienced Michel Prazeres in 2021, then a breathtaking first-round KO of Carlston Harris via spinning hook kick and punches in February 2022. He proved his depth against quality veterans, guillotining Neil Magny in 2022 and submitting power-puncher Geoff Neal with a standing rear-naked choke in March 2023. His statement win came at UFC 296 in December 2023, when he submitted the legendary striker Stephen Thompson by second-round rear-naked choke. He then handed the previously unbeaten Ian Machado Garry his first loss via unanimous decision at UFC 310 in December 2024 — the first time anyone had taken Rakhmonov to the scorecards.

Fighting style

Rakhmonov is as close to a complete finisher as the welterweight division has, with a staggering 95 percent finish rate built on 10 submissions and eight knockouts across 19 wins. His grappling is relentless and varied — guillotines, rear-naked chokes from every position, triangle setups — and he chains it seamlessly with heavy, creative striking that includes spinning attacks. What separates him is that he wins everywhere: he can knock you out, choke you out, and, as the Machado Garry fight proved, comfortably win the rounds when a finish does not come. He has yet to face a moment of real adversity in the Octagon, and the only open question is how he will respond when an opponent finally drags him into deep, championship-level water.

Career highlights

• Undefeated at 19-0 — a perfect record with a remarkable 95 percent finish rate, among the highest of any active contender.
• Submission of Stephen Thompson — choked out the elite striker in the second round at UFC 296, a true statement of his all-around dominance.
• First to beat Ian Machado Garry — handed the unbeaten contender his first professional loss at UFC 310, going the distance for the only decision of his career.