Kazakh welterweight Shavkat Rahkmonov has instilled fear in the 170-pound division since his UFC debut. The native finisher has been nothing short of impressive throughout his MMA career and was one of the most exciting additions to the roster.

Even though he lacks English and isn’t a headline-grabber, Shavkat Rahkmonov is still a huge figure in the sport.

Shavkat Rahkmonov has fought all his life

The welterweight fought for fun from a young age

• Born in Uzbekistan to Kazakh parents.
• He is a descendant of a nomadic tribe.
• I grew up fighting from a young age.

“The Nomad” Shavkat Rahkmonov is one of the few fighters in UFC history to represent the flag of Kazakhstan. Rahkmonov moved to the country from Uzbekistan at the age of 16 and said he has fond memories of fighting at a young age because he was encouraged by his brothers.

In an interview about his country, the undefeated fighter said:

“What makes Kazakhstan different is its soul. The people are very friendly and very hospitable and the men are very brave and courageous. I don’t want to brag about my ancestors, but they were not ordinary people. They were steppe nomads. They would move from place to place. They were a warlike people.”

Shavkat Rahkmonov has extensive experience in martial arts

“The Nomad” was a regional champion before his UFC career

• Former WMMAA champion.
• Former Asian champion.
• Background in Sambo, like many other Eastern fighters.

When Rahkmonov discovered MMA, he immediately knew it was the right sport for him. Speaking to UFC about his early years, the Uzbekistan-born fighter explained: “Since I was a child, I loved competing and fighting. When I saw MMA, I fell in love with the sport.”

Rahkmonov made his UFC debut with a professional record of 12-0, in a career filled with nothing but fame and titles. Prior to his promotional debut with Dana White’s company, the fighter had already won titles in both Battle of the Nomads and M-1 Global, defeating every fighter he had faced up to that point.

Shavkat Rahkmonov was a devastating performer in the UFC

The fighter has extended his finishing streak despite facing tougher opponents

• A first-round submission gave Rakhmonov a great start in the UFC.
• The fighter has five submissions in his UFC career.
• Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal and Neil Magny all completed The Nomad.
• Three performance-related awards for Rahkmonov in his UFC career.

Eliminating opponents in the UFC is often not an easy task for fighters. However, the 30-year-old Rahkmonov has maintained his 100% graduation rate with the company. Some of his most impressive wins include former title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. The karate fighter had never been subdued in his long MMA career. However, Rahkmonov needed almost 10 minutes of fighting time to change that.

Rahkmonov would earn a Fight of the Night bonus in 2023 following his third-round submission to UFC veteran Geoff Neal. This would be the third 50k bonus of his UFC career. A spinning heel kick against Carlston Harris and a devastating submission over Neil Magny would also see the fighter’s purse improve thanks to his performance.

For Rahkmonov, the goal is always to finish the fight

There is never a dull moment when Rahkmonov competes

• The fighter from Kazakhstan has a kill-or-be-killed style.
• Only fought once in the third round.
• Seven first-round results.

Unlike many MMA fighters, Shavkat Rahkmonov has no clear direction when it comes to his fighting style. Although he has extensive sambo experience, he has shown that he is much more than just a grappler. A key part of Rahkmonov’s game is a pressure-heavy boxing style. The ability to easily take down his opponents has led “The Nomad” to many placings.

The ability to finish the fight through both striking and jiu-jitsu made Rahkmonov a difficult puzzle to solve. Strikers like Stephen Thompson were unable to sustain the fight, while more competent wrestlers struggled to box and punch the fighter.

Rahkmonov trains at Kill Cliff MMA (formerly Sanford MMA) and continues to progress at an impressive rate, working with the best fighters in the world. Learning from the likes of Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns and Michael Chandler, it’s very likely that MMA fans haven’t seen the best of Shavkat Rahkmonov. The undefeated fighter now faces his former training partner Ian Machado Garry in a fight that will be the first time anyone has tasted defeat.