UFC 310 LIVE: Shavkat Rakhmonov beats Ian Machado Garry in close clash – latest updates and results
Follow live as Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against Kai Asakura, after Shavkat Rakhmonov’s narrow victory over Ian Machado Garry
Ian Machado Garry’s late rally was not enough at UFC 310 on Saturday, as he suffered a decision defeat by Shavkat Rakhmonov.
The former training partners both entered Las Vegas unbeaten, but it was Rakhmonov who kept his undefeated streak intact, moving to 19-0. However, Machado Garry (15-1) did become Rakhmonov’s first opponent to go the distance with the Kazakh. The scorecards read 48-47, 48-47, 48-47 as Rakhmonov retained his place as No 1 contender at welterweight, setting up a fight with champion Belal Muhammad.
Rakhmonov had been due to face Muhammad at UFC 310, but the Palestinian-American withdrew from the main event due to a bone infection. That led Machado Garry to step in, with his bout against Rakhmonov named the co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena.
In the main event of UFC 310, Alexandre Pantoja retained his flyweight title against Kai Asakura, submitting the Japanese in round two. Asakura, a former two-time bantamweight champion in Rizin, was signed by the UFC to give Pantoja a fresh challenger – after the Brazilian cleared out the 125lb division. And while Asakura landed numerous signature knees, Pantoja was able to take him down and lock in a rear naked choke, causing Asakura to pass out.
Re-live updates and see all results from UFC 310, below.
UFC 310: Shavkat Rakhmonov submitted Ian Machado Garry in sparring rounds
A key narrative heading into UFC 310 has been Rakhmonov and Machado Garry’s past as sparring partners.
Rakhmonov claimed this week that he submitted the Irishman back in the day, and Machado Garry admitted as much later in the week.
More here:
Shavkat Rakhmonov clears up Ian Garry sparring rumours with blunt claim
The unbeaten welterweights will clash in the co-main event of UFC 310 on Saturday
UFC 310 LIVE: Alexandra Pantoja a top-10 P4P fighter?
Okay, okay... so. Alexandra Pantoja is not in The Independent’s pound-for-pound UFC top 10.
However, the more I think about his resume, the more I regret not including him up to this point.
During and before his run as UFC flyweight champion, he’s notched three wins over ex-title holder Brandon Moreno, and two over No 1-ranked Brandon Royval.
In fact, the Brazilian is 9-0 against the division’s current top 10 (he’s not included in that 10, as champion). The only one he hasn’t beaten is the only one he hasn’t fought: Amir Albazi, who lost to Moreno recently.
Furthermore, the 33-year-old is always in exciting fights.
If he beats Kai Asakura tonight, Pantoja will enter our list. That’s a promise.
The Independent’s pound-for-pound UFC rankings
Here are our top 10 men’s fighters in the UFC, in a list updated after every major event
UFC 310: All fights – main card and prelims
Subject to very late changes...
Main card
Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs Kai Asakura (men’s flyweight title)
Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Ian Machado Garry (welterweight, five rounds)
Ciryl Gane vs Alexander Volkov 2 (heavyweight)
Bryce Mitchell vs Kron Gracie (featherweight)
Nate Landwehr vs Dooho Choi (featherweight)
Prelims
Dominick Reyes vs Anthony Smith (light-heavyweight)
Vicente Luque vs Themba Gorimbo (welterweight)
Movsar Evloev vs Aljamain Sterling (featherweight)
Randy Brown vs Bryan Battle (welterweight)
Early prelims
Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders (catchweight, 195lb)
Cody Durden vs Joshua Van (flyweight)
Michael Chiesa vs Max Griffin (welterweight)
Clay Guida vs Chase Hooper (lightweight)
Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Lukasz Brzeski (heavyweight)
UFC 310 card in full as Kai Asakura fights Alexandre Pantoja
Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry meet in a highly-anticipated fight, before Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against Kai Asakura
UFC 310 LIVE: Welcome!
UFC 310 culminates in two huge fights tonight, as Shavkat Rakhmonov faces Ian Machado Garry before Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against Kai Asakura.
Rakhmonov was due to challenge welterweight champion Belal Muhammad here, but the latter withdrew due to a bone infection, leading Machado Garry to step in. The unbeaten Irishman faces the unbeaten Kazakh – one of his former training partners – in a highly-anticipated bout, which will establish a No 1 contender at 170lb.
Then, the UFC 310 main event pits Pantoja against Asakura, who is challenging for gold in his promotional debut. Asakura previously reigned as Rizin’s bantamweight champion, and that pedigree sees him hit the ground running in the UFC.
Elsewhere on the card, former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane faces Alexander Volkov in a rematch, while Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman are the other ex-title holders to feature in Las Vegas.
Follow live updates and results from the UFC 310 main card and prelims, right here.
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