The U.S Shores Are Cold; Shavkat Rakhmonov Has Landed

Throughout the years, Kazakhstan has produced some of our era’s best boxers, most notably the greatest middleweight of all time, Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin. A man who took the combat sports world by storm with his innocent looks that took a switch whenever he entered the ring, transforming into one of the most ferocious combat athletes we’ve ever seen by racking up a legendary knockout streak that lasted nine years.

A man named Shavkat Rakhmonov is following in the footsteps of the legendary Golovkin, but instead of just being a dominant force in boxing, he took the route of being vicious in all aspects of the fight game.

Shavkat ‘Nomad’ Rakhmonov, a 27-year-old Kazakh phenom with a record of 14-0, with all his wins ending before hearing the final bell.

The pride of Kazakhstan took over the amateur ranks by becoming the WMMA Asia champion in no time, leaving him with nothing left to accomplish other than turning pro to make a run at a world title on the global scale.

The master of sport in combat sambo and MMA made his Professional debut in 2014, finishing every single one of his adversaries, rapidly establishing himself as the number one ranked Kazakh fighter in the world.

After showing dominance in all his fights, Rakhmonov was keen on heading over to collect a world title in Russia for the UFC masses to grant him a shot under the brightest lights of all.

Mission accomplished. Shavkat Rakhmoonov was crowned the new M-1 champion at just twenty-five years of age. Leaving no doubt that he is indeed the real deal. There was no denying the fact that the young Kazakh was ready for the big stage.

“Ask & you shall receive,” Sean Shelby said. A few weeks later, Rakhmonov was granted a UFC contract to make his debut in the place where he truly belongs.

Coming into the UFC with a record of 12-0, it was a sink or swim situation for the pride of Kazakhstan. Being matched up with the elite Bartosz Fabinski with intentions to give the young undefeated prospect a rude welcoming to the big leagues.

The fight falls through due to the pandemic, putting Shavkat’s long-awaited debut on hold. There was no shortage of welterweight contenders that wanted to steal Rakhmonov’s hype.

Shavkat got matched up again with even a more formidable adversary. The Russian Ramzan Emeev was more than happy to jump on the opportunity with both hands. However, the fight fell through again due to the Russian getting injured.

Frustrating times for the eager Kazakh, with his dreams being put on hold again. He knew that it was inevitable for him to make the walk, so he kept chipping away with time being on his side.

It was official. Dateline AbuDhabi, UFC 254 was the event, steps on short notice, none other than the forever game Alex Olivera.
Who you can say is arguably a tougher stylistic matchup for Rakhmonov out of all the opponents he was slated to face.

The stage was set. October 24, on the birthday of the young Kazakh phenom, assuring him that it all made sense, all the cancelled bouts have led him to make the walk on the day he was born. “Written in the stars,” he said.

Rakhmonov was welcomed with a darting right hand in the first ten seconds of the fight. Blurring his vision, but at the same time, it was a shot that woke the instinctual finisher in him.

A few minutes after having the early adversity, Shavkat unloaded with a beautiful combination, hurting Olivera on the feet with a devastating knee to the body, forcing him to clinch, leaving his neck open for the guillotine to be sunk in. And just like that, add another finish to the highlight reel of Kazakhstan’s finest.

Could not have asked for a better debut. Putting the welterweight division on notice with a finish against a formidable opponent on your birthday. “Written in the stars” indeed.

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
-Will Rogers

Well, the pride of Kazakhstan didn’t need a second chance, delivering a memorable first impression on the undercard of the biggest card of 2020.

This is only the beginning for the 27-year old, slowly but surely building a finishing streak for the ages, with a vision of following his fellow countryman’s footsteps, the great Gennady Golovkin. So, all I’m saying is this, remember the name Shavkat Rakhmonov.

The Kazakh phenom returns tonight as he squares off against fellow ferocious finisher Carlston Harris live on ESPN.