Shavkat Rakhmonov brought about a spectacular performance for the fans at UFC 296 last weekend, but little did the Kazakh fighter know that something likewise was waiting to surprise him back in his home country.
Currently ranked third in the UFC welterweight rankings, the undefeated Rakhmonov shared the Octgon with former two time 170-pound title contender Stephen Thompson on the undercard of UFC 296 last Saturday, December 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
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Despite his foot injury, Rakhmonov didn’t back down from the fight and returned a dominating performance against Thompson, forcing him into submission via rear naked choke in the second round, securing his 18th professional victory while remaining unbeaten in the cage.
Marking his sixth victory in the UFC, which is also the longest active finish streak in the promotion, “Nomad” inches closer to a shot at the welterweight title, which was retained by the reigning champion Leon Edwards, who defeated Colby Covington via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 296.
Saturday night @Rakhmonov1994's six-fight finish streak became the longest active finish streak in the UFC.
It's also the longest finish streak in UFC welterweight history. #UFC296 pic.twitter.com/N3S4HSbdM0
— UFC (@ufc) December 18, 2023
Representing his country in the most elite promotion of mixed martial arts, Rakhmonov’s success in the UFC has been resonating emphatically among his compatriots, and so when the fighter landed back in his home, a grand welcome was awaiting him.
In a recent clip shared by @promotion_qazaqstan on Instagram, Rakhmonov is seen swarmed by a crowd of revering fans, greeting him with a warm welcome at the airport in Almaty. Check out the video below-
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Can Shavkat Rakhmonov become UFC’s first Kazakh champion?
Shavkat Rakhmonov has enjoyed one of the most successful growths in the UFC in recent times. A former M-1 Welterweight Champion, Rakhmonov made his debut in the Octagon against Alex de Oliveira at UFC 254 back in October 2020, securing a submission win on his promotional debut. From that point forward, it has been all razzle and dazzle for the Kazakh contender.
In the last three years of his UFC stint, Rakhmonov has gone 6-0 in the cage, having marked substantial wins over Michel Prazeres, Carlston Harris, Neil Magny and Geoff Neal, with the one against Harris via 1st round spinning hook kick and the rest via submissions.
Having climbed to the 3rd spot in the 170-pound division and the remarkable win over Thompson, Rakhmonov is one of the strongest contenders to challenge Edwards’ welterweight crown and if he does dethrone “Rocky” from his throne, Rakhmonov would become the first Kazakh champion in the history of the UFC, and one of the biggest sporting icons of his country.
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