Firas Zahabi: Rakhmonov’s 'Relentless Pressure' Will Be Too Much for Garry

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Renowned coach Firas Zahabi believes Shavkat Rakhmonov won’t lose his perfect record against fellow undefeated contender Ian Garry.



Rakhmonov and Garry will trade leather at UFC 310 on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout will see one of the undefeated welterweights lose their perfect record. And Zahabi doesn’t think it’ll be Rakhmonov, at least for now.

Zahabi has been impressed with Rakhmonov for a while now, acknowledging the Kazakh as the enigma that he is. Zahabi recently praised Rakhmonov’s toughness yet again, which he believes will be too much for Garry. While Zahabi has seen lapses in Rakhmonov’s defense, he believes “Nomad” will make up for it with sheer grit.

“I think Shavkat’s gonna beat [Ian Garry]. After watching his fights it’s kind of obvious,” the Tristar Gym coach said on YouTube. “He has a relentless pressure, the man is an animal. He doesn’t have the best defense, but when he gets hit, he moves forward. Yes, I’ve seen him even get dropped. He gets up like a zombie and walks forward. He has an incredible robustness and resilience. Now, his defense is good; it’s just not great. He gets hit, he gets tagged, he gets pushed around, he gets even taken down. He bounces back up and marches forward. His relentless pressure, I think it’s gonna be way too much for [Garry].”

However, Zahabi also believes that the flaws in Rakhmonov’s defense will cost him his undefeated record someday.

“He takes it, man. He’s so tough. He does get hit… he doesn’t have the best defense,” Zahabi said. “One day it’s gonna catch up to him. One day we’re gonna maybe watch Shavkat get stopped or really badly hurt or lose a fight. I just don’t think it’s this one. I just don’t think it’s Ian Garry.”

Rakhmonov has finished all eighteen of his career wins so far, which includes six UFC outings. Meanwhile, Garry has finished three of his eight UFC wins and has eight total stoppages in 15 victories.


 
I agree. Garry might outpoint him, but I don’t find it likely. Maybe one day he gets stopped, I just don’t think it will be Ian to pull it off.
 
He will use the same strategy he did against Wonderboy but Garry is younger/faster...
 
Agreed. Ian is too pillow fisted to stop him.
 
Even if the fight does stay standing, I feel Garry will basically have to fight the perfect fight to get the decision win but even then, I don't think his striking is as diverse and I don't think his grappling is anywhere close to Rakhmonov's. I'm still going with Shavkat by (T)KO.
 
Dont care, What does AI fight bot say?

Even though they are both undefeated, there is a sense that Shavkat is significantly better.

I get this sense aswell. Not sure why.... only common opponent is magny who Shavkat finished.

I also feel that shavkat is much better. I can't really articulate why. Maybe it's some deep rooted bias I have against garry? I dont have twitter or SM, so I know it's not all his family drama that I dont give a fuck about, I've just never been TOO impressed by him.
 
Shavkat is an animal and I don't see him getting out pointed.

Garry has a live dog punchers chance because he is a hitter when he lets fly and Shavkat gets hit a decent amount.

The gap in their pure striking isn't that big, but the overall gaps in grappling/submission/toughness is.
 
This is a freight train vs a brick wall, and unfortunately for the brick wall, the freight train weighs a million tons and isn't stopping just because a brick wall is in the way.

Shavkat by finish in the 2nd imo
 
Garry is a runner and a track star.
His last two “fights” were a guy doing his best job to do just enough to win and without wanting to fight.

Across the octagon you got a guy with a 100% finish rate.

I welcome the Khan with open gates.
 
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