Top UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov has dismissed the self-belief Ian Garry has when it comes to their likely fight down the line.
When it comes to undefeated prospects rising the ranks on MMA's biggest stage, the 170-pound division has boasted two of the most prominent and highly touted in recent years — former M-1 Global champion Rakhmonov and ex-Cage Warriors titleholder Garry.
The pair both find themselves inside the top 10, with Rakhmonov being the first to earn a shot at gold. That was set to come in the main event of UFC 310 next month, but his challenge against Belal Muhammad will have to wait after the champ withdrew through injury.
With the Kazakh campaigning to face a fellow contender for interim gold on Dec. 7, Garry has thrown his name into the hat, coming as his latest confident callout of Rakhmonov in recent times.
"Nomad," however, unsurprisingly thinks that self-belief is misplaced.
During an appearance on Monday's episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Rakhmonov noted Garry's frequent callouts, seemingly questioning the Irishman's confidence given how the Kazakh recalls their training sessions at Kill Cliff FC playing out.
I'm ready if it's going to be (Garry) after he wins his fight," Rakhmonov said. "If it's a date that's good for both of us, we can do it, you know? If he wants to try and take my 0, he can try, but I know the same thing's going to happen that's happened in training. I'm just going to keep it the same way and I'm pretty confident that I'm going to beat him.
It's just training. I don't want to praise myself too much, but I felt comfortable whether its striking or ground. I felt comfortable and in control. So, I'm pretty confident in this matchup.
For now, it appears results will have to go a certain way on both sides for their paths to cross.
While Garry gears up to defend his spot opposite Joaquin Buckley in Tampa, Florida next month, Rakhmonov is campaigning for an interim welterweight title clash against former champ Kamaru Usman.
Whether or not that comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it would appear that a "Nomad" vs. "The Future" clash is not out of the realms of possibility for 2025.
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