Ian Machado Garry: ‘I Don’t Feel Like I Lost’ at UFC 310, Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov ‘Won by Opinion’

MMA120
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LAS VEGAS – Losing the zero on his record didn’t change the way Ian Machado Garry views his career and potential in the UFC, not even slightly.

The Irish welterweight contender entered Saturday’s UFC 310 co-main event against Shavkat Rakhmonov undefeated and exited with a unanimous decision loss. Despite the setback to Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) doesn’t see himself as a loser. Instead, he believes he further demonstrated his path to becoming the UFC welterweight champion.

“I don’t feel like I lost today,” Machado Garry shared with reporters during the UFC 310 post-fight press conference. “I may not have had my hand raised, but I fought a giant. I faced the boogeyman and proved that he’s human. Taking the fight on three weeks’ notice, I saved this event and fought against the scariest man in the division. I managed to thwart him, almost entirely. There was no point where he seemed like he’d finish the fight, and I had him in two submissions. I took his back, and I had fun.”

“I demonstrated tonight, on short notice, that I can compete with the best in the division and that I have the potential to be a champion. I’m capable of fighting five rounds, with no holes in my game. Nothing he brought fazed me tonight. He won by the judges’ opinion, and that’s okay. I can live with that.”

While it’s uncertain what lies ahead for Machado Garry, it seems likely that Rakhmonov will challenge UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in 2025.

Machado Garry is confident that Rakhmonov will secure the title, setting the stage for a potential rematch or even a trilogy bout.

“I mentioned before the fight that I believe he’s better than everyone else, and I believe I am too,” Machado Garry stated. “We’re going to face each other multiple times in our careers. I don’t think our encounter will be limited to just one more fight; it might be twice. He’s that exceptional, and I know I am as well.”

For more details on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with mixed martial arts fans.



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