Real Reason Behind Shavkat’s Title Withdrawal Revealed

Ian Machado Garry’s stock raised at UFC 310.

Despite coughing up his unbeaten professional record to Shavkat Rakhmonov, Garry really impressed against the Kazakh mauler. Prior to their five-round battle, Rakhmonov never came particularly close to defeat inside the Octagon, routinely dominating his opposition and finishing all of his previous foes.

Garry went toe-to-toe with Rakhmonov and nearly came out on top, coughing up a close 3-2 decision. He also finished the fight really strong, which goes a long way in promoting an eventual rematch and keeping Garry high up the ladder. So high, in fact, that Garry was outright livid when he didn’t receive the title shot after Shavkat Rakhmonov was sidelined by injury and could not claim his title shot.

Jack Della Maddalena stepped in, and Garry isn’t happy about it.

Part of Garry’s gripe is that he believes himself to be the source of Rakhmonov’s injury. Per “The Future,” Rakhmonov’s knee is trashed, and that injury is a direct result of all the low kicks Garry landed back in December.

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— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 14, 2025

“I think the word ‘withdrew’ is the word that kind of bugs me,” Garry explained to Ariel Helwani. “I don’t believe Shavkat withdrew due to a choice of not wanting to fight for a title, but from what I’m hearing, it’s more of an injury. An injury that I absolutely believe he sustained in the fight with me due to the amount of heel kicks I put to his knee … If he’s not available, it makes logical sense to go to me, not a guy who’s been out for a year.”

A bit of fact-checking feels necessary here. Rakhmonov has withdrew due to knee injuries prior to the Garry match up, and there are substantial claims that he entered that bout with a torn MCL already. News of Rakhmonov’s injury didn’t break until a three months after their clash either, which hurts Garry’s argument as well.

Simultaneously, a couple dozen side kicks to an already chronically injured knee are unlikely to improve any tendons!

Garry mentions a title shot being difficult to come by off a loss, but he’ll have a chance to return to the win column sooner than later. He stepped up on short-notice to accept a UFC Kansas City main event match up versus Brazilian knockout artist Carlos Prates on April 26, and a victory there would put him in very good position to argue his case for gold.