UFC 310: Garry confirms Rakhmonov submitted him in training

Ian Machado Garry has confirmed that Shavkat Rakhmonov submitted him in a training session, ahead of the pair’s meeting at UFC 310 this Saturday in Las Vegas.

The Irishman’s confession comes after Rakhmonov claimed earlier in the week to have submitted Garry during a sparring session two years ago.

“If he wants to latch onto a moment of success in training from two years ago and think I’m the same fighter I was then, then he would be sadly mistaken,” Garry said in the UFC 310 press conference.

“I don’t believe that he’s going to be latching to anything like that.

“I believe that he’s being honest, and he’s saying this happened — which it did.

“I’m not turning around and saying it didn’t, but if I sit here and tell you the names I’ve beaten in sparring, it’s just not relevant, and it would be a very different conversation.

“So, he has to do it on Saturday night.

“I’m going to go out there and show him I’m far better than he can imagine.”

UFC betting sites heavily favour Rakhmonov at the T-Mobile Arena, with odds to win the co-main event at -357.14 to +275 in the Kazakh’s favour.

Bovada has a Rakhmonov submission as the shortest-priced method of victory at +187.

But Garry is confident he can stop his opponent’s rise and hand him his first defeat in 19 professional fights.

“The entire world knows I’m a gamer,” he said.

“They have given me nothing but respect, because I didn’t have to take this fight. I had a fight lined up next week.

“I’ve seen this opportunity as the baddest man of the division, and I was like, ‘You know what? Let me do that.’

“The risk vs reward is better than anything.

“In this case, I get a shot at the title, I set myself as the No.1 contender, and I remain undefeated.

“I take out who many consider the boogie man, I do it in beautiful fashion, and then I wipe the floor with Belal [Muhammad] next year.

“It’s perfect.”

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