Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (12-0) was set to make history at UFC London, becoming the first Kazakhstani UFC fighter to grace the octagon. Coronavirus canceled the British based card altogether but the undefeated Rakhmonov is definitely a name to keep an eye on as a future welterweight prospect!
Shavkat Rakhmonov was born in Uzbekistan but calls his home Kokshetau, Kazakhstan where he also trains. “Nomad’s” upbringing is rooted in combat sambo and it still shines bright in his game, constantly threatening trips from the clinch. He won an amateur MMA competition at age 18 and decided to turn pro shortly after.
Shavkat took his first fight in 2014 with M1 Global, a Russian MMA promotion with fierce competition, and easily secured a triangle choke in round one. After vaulting out to a squeaky clean 6-0, M1 deemed it time to face then champ Alexey Kunchenko (then 13-0, now 20-2). Rakhmonov made the smart move to keep the record safe and sound by venturing over to become the face of his home country’s new promotion, Battle of Nomads.
There he reeled off three impressive victories including a three-round back and forth bloodbath and a decisive submission win over now UFC fighter Jun Yong Park (then 3-2, now 11-4). Running through all competition in Kazakhstan, Shavkat Rakhmonov returned to Russia in 2019 to claim the vacant 170 lb. title. Shavkat earned the belt by TKO’ing Danil Prikaza in round 2, and then put an exclamation point on it with a round one liver shot stoppage.
Rakhmonov loves to work fast with his creative and electric style of fighting. He has finished all 12, 7 by KO/TKO, and 5 by tap, all chokes. He reminds me of Zabit Magomedsharipov in how polished every facet of his game looks. The UFC will be the ultimate proving ground for the undefeated Rakhmonov but Borat’s favorite fighter is surely one to watch!
Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov | 12-0 | 6’1 170 lbs. | Age 25 | Reach N/A | Orthodox Stance | Fighting Out of Kokshetau, Kazakhstan
Fighter profile courtesy of Tapology.com > Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov
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