Three years ago, the UFC brought a big boost to the welterweight division. The first Kazakhstani who signed a contract with the largest MMA organization could also become the first champion from that region and thus immortalize his name in his nation’s history.
Biography
Shavkat Bakhtibaevich Rakhmonov was born in 1994 in Shurchi District, Uzbekistan. Since he was born in Uzbekistan, of which he has been a citizen since birth, he became a Kazakhstani citizen in 2017 and says that this change helped him greatly in his martial career. His family had financial problems, and Shavkat had to get a reliable job before 18 to provide.
Like any lover of freestyle wrestling, he managed to balance training with work, and he learned about MMA by watching fights on DVD. After Shavkat got accepted to Kokshetau State University, where he attended physical education, his family moved to Kokshetau when he turned 19.
Amateur Career
Nomad started competing as an amateur in 2013 and found his success in the WMMAA organization, where he recorded an amateur record of 11 wins and two losses in two years of competition. It was in that organization that Shavkat won the 2013 World Championship as a welterweight competitor.
The following year, he returned to the cage to win the Asian Championship and a silver medal, with another participation in the World Championship. During his first year of competition as a professional, Rakhmonov fought at another World Competition in 2015, where he again took the silver medal. After that, with good amateur foundations, he fully dedicated himself to professional MMA.
Professional Career
Shavkat took the professional MMA world by storm. He achieved a perfect score in 17 matches in eight years of competition, with a 100% finish rate, counting eight knockouts and nine submissions. Like most successful fighters from the East, he excelled at M-1 Challenge events, finishing opponents mostly in the first rounds, and he also competed under the KZMMAF banner.
It took him ten flawless performances for two organizations to land a UFC contract, allowing him to debut in October 2020 in Abu Dhabi. Alex Oliveira, Michel Prazeres, Carlston Harris, Neil Magny, and Geoff Neal were Rakhmonov’s opponents removed from the Octagon by Nomad before the final bell.
Since 2021, he has fought under Kill Cliff Fight Club, and the Kazakh fighter is slowly but surely moving towards the opportunity for the welterweight title. His next task awaits him on December 16, where he will stand against the former title challenger, Stephen Wonderboy Thompson.
Fighting Style
Rakhmanov is one of the most complete fighters in the UFC today, and considering his young age, we can expect an upgraded Nomad in the future. His striking consists of attractive combinations in the pocket and at the distance where his kicks come to the fore. Rakhmonov is one of the fighters whose opponents are not safe in any aspect of the fight.
Shavkat is not afraid of boxing exchanges, although he engages in them boldly and smartly at close range without taking risks, which makes him one of the most intelligent fighters on the roster. Nomad makes excellent readings of the opponent, and his brain, like a computer, puts together winning combinations, targeting both the body and the head.
In a clever way and without haste, he puts pressure on the opponent, forcing him into a corner and showing his wrestling skills, which can be said to rival the Dagestanis. He is a master of sports in Combat Sambo with excellent wrestling timing and the ability to wrestle even when his back is against the wire.
Shavkat knows his weight placement and exerts superior control over opponents who must defend his resourceful submissions. He can take an opponent down in a hundred ways and keep him there with one of the best ground-and-pound strikes and controls in the MMA game. His punches have enough power to remove the opponent quickly and efficiently. Although he has proven to be not-so-untouchable and can hurt, Shavkat’s warrior heart always keeps him in the game until the very end.
Achievements in Martial Arts
Shavkat reached his first championship in his ninth professional match, winning the welterweight title under the Kazakhstan Mixed Martial Arts Federation. Nomad even defended his title at the end of the year. After the first championship in 2018, Rakhmonov already in 2019 conquered the M-1 challenge welterweight belt in the organization for which he made his debut.
In just three months, Shavkat returns like the real champion to defend the M-1 welterweight belt and is going to the UFC to write history. For White’s organization, in just five appearances, he won two Performance of The Night bonuses and one Fight of the Night bonus, delighting both the president and the audience. Leaving the question of how successful he will be in the rest of his career.
The Most Incredible Win
His most impressive victory is certainly the last match against the tough Geoff Neal, who, for 15 minutes, did not stop moving forward, taking the fight to Shavkat. Both fighters participated in excellent exchanges of blows, with Rakhmonov being a shade better. Of course, it was to be expected that the fight would fail to meet the judges’ decision.
After Neal stuffed several takedown attempts, the Kazakh decided he didn’t need Geoff on the ground to finish him with a standing rear naked choke. The finish came a minute before the final bell, and both men took home bonuses for the fight they put on.
Daily Training Gear
Although he is still not a champion, his choice of equipment is that of a champion. Like all fellow fighters from the East, Buka Boxing Gloves are always in his bag, as are Buka shorts, which he often wears unless he’s grappling in the top Fuji GI. In addition to BUKA equipment, Nomad also uses Cleto Reyes because he is obviously informed about the best gloves on the market.
At the same time, he sharpens his pads with Winning brand gloves. In old pre-UFC matches, we can see that Nomad has a taste for quality as he fought in Venum or Bad Boy MMA shorts, known for standing still while grappling. Speaking of Venum, Shavkat’s sparring partners are safe while he wears Venum shinguards, and also likes to wear a Venum rashguard and shorts. In addition, he uses one of the world’s best brands, Asics, as wrestling shoes.
- Manufactered by Winning in Japan with the craft
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- ANATOMICALLY DESIGNED BOXING GLOVES - CLETO REYES heavy-duty boxing gloves are handcrafted in Mexico...
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- Multi-density foam with reinforcement on the shin and neck of the foot
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- Fit close to the body
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- Mesh insole
- Non-removable EVA sockliner
- Synthetic overlay throughout upper provides added durability in high-stress areas
- Take the mat with the Jordan Burroughs signature wresting shoe: the ASICS® JB Elite IV
Net Worth
Judging by the latest information from 2023, Shavkat Rakhmanov’s net worth is as much as 1 million dollars, which means his career has borne fruit. Nomad earned $40.000 in his debut, $28.000 against Michel Prazerez, and $94.000 for Carlston Harris’s fight. In addition to the money he earned from appearances and victories, Shavkat was awarded $50,000 thrice bonuses. He also has signed sponsorship contracts with Gorrila Energy Drink, who were with him even before the UFC.
Last update on 2024-12-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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