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The world of MMA is buzzing with excitement as Dana White, the president of the UFC, has expressed interest in a potential matchup between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Colby Covington.
In a recent interview with ESPN, White was asked about the possibility of the two welterweights going head-to-head in the octagon, to which he responded, "That's a fun one."
For fans of the sport, this is big news. Rakhmonov, the undefeated Kazakhstani fighter, has quickly made a name for himself in the UFC with 5 impressive wins, maintaining his 100% finish rate under his belt. His most recent victory came at UFC 285 when he defeated American fighter Geoff Neal in the third round via submission.
“He’s a great opponent, no one finished him before in a fight,” Rakhmonov said about Neal during the UFC 285 post-fight press conference. “I’m very happy. I’ve been saying one or two fights before the title shot. I’m ready now. You know Colby Covington; you are next or a title shot next.”
Nomad said he’s OK waiting until the end of the year for his opportunity at the belt.
“I’m in no rush,” Rakhmonov said. “We have Ramadan month ahead of us, but saying that, a title fight in Abu Dhabi would be great. Etihad Arena would be full of Kazakhstan fans. It would be great for my country.”
Covington, on the other hand, is a well-known name in the UFC. The former interim welterweight champion has a record of 17-3 and is known for his brash personality and trash-talking abilities. Covington hasn't fought since defeating Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision in March of last year. Belal Muhammad and others have publicly called him out, but White, responding to the post-fight interview with Shavkat, rejected the idea that Covington has been declining contests.
“That’s fun. It’s a fun one,” White said during the presser. “I’m not making the fight [right now]. I’m just saying I didn’t know [Rakhmonov called him out], but we’ll see. Colby’s ready to fight. He’s ready to fight anybody. We’ve reached out to him for a couple of different fights, and he said yes to it, but it just didn’t work out.”
While a matchup between Rakhmonov and Covington has yet to be officially confirmed, the fact that White is open to the idea is a promising sign. So, what can fans expect from this potential matchup? Rakhmonov is known for his impressive grappling skills, with all three of his UFC victories coming by way of submission. Meanwhile, Covington is known for his striking ability and his relentless pace in the octagon.
If this fight does come to fruition, it's sure to be a clash of styles that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. The winner could potentially earn themselves a shot at the welterweight title, currently held by Leon Edwards.
For now, fans will have to wait and see if Rakhmonov vs. Covington becomes a reality. But with White expressing interest in the matchup and both fighters eager to step into the octagon, it's a fight that could very well happen soon. And if it does, it's sure to be one that MMA fans won't want to miss.