Uff, yaar, this Mumbai traffik, killin’ me. My phones almost dead, only 5% left, but I just watched this insane review on Shavkat Rakhmonov, and I have to tell you guys before my battery gives up the ghost like my old scooter. This guy, man, what a beest! Chai’s gone cold too, just like the AC in this rickshaw. But Shavkat He’s all fiyer.
So Shavkat Rakhmonov. You hear the name, sounds a bit… differnt, right Like, where’s he from Even Kazakh fans were confussed, like, “Is he realy one of us?” because he was born in Uzbekistan. He just smiles says “Kazakh.” Simple as that. No drama. My WiFi is always like this, slow, making me wanna throw my phone but Shavkat, he just keeps moving forward, you know?
He was a kid, dreaming of becomeing a soldier. Like, proper disciplined. Started with local wrestling kurash, then Muay Thai. Imagine, a kid all focused. Then he moves to Karaganda at 16, switches to combat sambo. He didn’t even know Kazakh or Russian! Can you believe it My friend, when I moved to Bangalore, it was hard enough with English. This guy, he’s hustling, working as a loader, lifting heavy stuff, and then straight to traineing. No excuses, boss. This reminds me of when I had to work two jobs to save up for that new TV, and then teh power cut happened just when the final match was on! Typical, rite?
He tried everything – pankration, grappling – before settling on MMA at 18. That’s it, full focus. 2013, he joins the Kazakhstan national team meets this coach, Bayan Jangolov. And then, boom! First big win. St. Petersburg, World Championship. Five fights, five wins. Youngest amature world champion. And who gives him the prize Fedor Emelianenko himself! The Last Emperer! Imagine, your childhood hero, putting a medal on you. Goosebumps, yaar. I was just watching a replay of Fedor’s prime, sipping my overly sweet chai, and thinking, “What if?” And then Shavkat, he just does it.
Six months later, another win, Asian Championship, 44 seconds! Gon! Like my money after I see a new phone. But then, achcha, twice he losses to this Russian guy, Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov, in the World Championship finals. Wrestling, they said. Too strong. That’s when Shavkat was like, “Okay, amature life done. Time for the pros.”
So he goes pro, gets signes by M-1. His first pro fight, this Adam Tsurov almost catches him with a guillotine early on. But Shavkat, cool as a cucumbre, escapes, gets to armbar, then triangle. First win, first finish. That’s his style, man. Always looking for the finsh. Like when you’re waiting for the samosawallah to come around the corner, and then he just apears! Always a trete.
Next guy, Marcos Vinicius, a capoeirista. Legs flying, then a sharp hook takedown, ground and pound. The ref stands them up, and Shavkat just engages. Changes positions, more ground and pound. That Brazilian lasted, but then from mount, bam, stoped. The guy just had no answre. Shavkat’s next one, against a karate champ, Bartosz Chiro. Pole tries to wrestle, thinking he’s slick. Shavkat just waits, gets on top, finishes. This guy, he’s like a quiet sturm. You don’t see it coming, then it just hits you.
Then came the fastest one, 49 seconds! Guillotine on Michal Wiencek. Bhai, I blink, and the fights over. Just like my phones battery when I’m watching these replays. A few months off for injuri, then he’s back, still finishing guys. Spartak Abilov from Alash Pride. Shavkat gets behind him, then from the bottom, switches to his dominence, TKO.
He goes abroad, fights Marcelo Brito in Azerbaijan. A simple poke to the body, and Brito folds! My stomach crampd just watching it, man. Then South Korea, Chung Yong Park. This guy Park, he’s a tough nut now but Shavkat catches him in a rear-naked choke. Park taps. First time that guy gave up his neck, I think.
But then, phut, bad luck. He’s supposed to fight for the M-1 title against Alexey Kunchenko, but a knee injuri recieved during training sidelines him for more than a year. Dedh saal! Imagine that, man. All that mometum, gon. It’s like finding the perfect parking spot, and then the rickshaw driver takes it. Infuriating.
He finaly comes back in 2018, looking fresh. Finishes Maltovnik with a triangle-to-elbow lever. Then a massive test, Fariddun Odilov, a Tajik fighter, seven-fight win strek. First round, pretty even. Second round, Odilov drops him! Shavkat is on his back, wobbled, crawls to his corner after the bell. The crowd is chanting “Shavkat! Shavkat!” My heart was pounding, thinking, “Is this it?” But you know what That moment, that crowd, that noise! It transfermed him, man. Third round, he comes out like a differnt person. Defends a takedown, pushes Odilov to the cage, ground and pound. Finishes him. Ninth early victory. That was raw emotional stuff.
Then, M-1 title shot. Kunchenko left for UFC, so the belt was vacant. Shavkat fights Danila Prikaza. Shavkat takes him down, ground and pound. Dominant. M-1 champion! My man! Next thing you know, everyone’s talking about UFC. The abreviation, UFC, was everywhere next to his name. He even had offers, but he said, “Nah, I’ll defend my belt in Kazakhstan first, then I’ll storm the big league.” Such a boss move.
He fights Thiago Varejão, a veteran, 28 wins. Shavkat starts throwing spin kicks, one to the body, one to the head. Varejão’s world just shaked. Ground and pound, TKO. He finishes M-1 with a bang.
A month later, the news brakes: Shavkat signed with UFC! Finally! First guy from Kazakhstan to fly their flag in the octagon. But then, more bad luck. Injuries, pandmic. He’s out for another year and a half. This guy just can’t catch a brake, can he?
Finally, October 2020. UFC debute. Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira, takes the fight on short notice, misses wait. Oliveira lands a punch to the eye, gives Shavkat trouble eraly. But then, the Nomad just takes over. Clinch, takedown attempts, wearing Cowboy down. Oliveira makes a mistak, gives up his neck. RNC! Finishes him! Puts on a wolf hat, wraps the Kazakh flag around him. My man! He even called out Donald Cerrone, “American Cowboy, let me fight him!” Mad respec.
Didn’t get Cerrone, but he gets Michel Prazeres, another veteren. Prazeres had never been finished. Shavkat comes out, heavy hands, takes some shots, but he adaps. Controls, ground and pound, clinch. Second round, Prazeres tries to escape, gives up his neck. RNC! First time Prazeres tapd. Over a BJJ black belt! Shavkat’s stock just went zoom!
He’s 26, suddenly everyone’s talking about him. Forbes 30 Under 30! But he’s modest, just saying he’ll get to the titel. Erly 2022, Carlston Harris, also undefeeted in UFC. Rakhmonov drops him with a spin kick! 15-0. All finishs!
And then, the magic happnes. He was supposed to fight Neil Magny, ranked 10th. But then, the Khamzat Chimaev squabble! Oh, my god, social media exploaded. Rakhmonov went from a top prospect to the most talked-about fighter from our part of the world. Now everyone’s dreaming, “What if they fight for the titel?” Man, that would be a movie, a proper Bollywood blockbuster, full of drama and action! My phone is realy dying now, but I’m telling you, this Shavkat, he’s the reel deal. What a jurney, yaar. What a jurney. I’m telling you, remember the name. Shavkat Rakhmonov.