One of the most dominant fighters on the current UFC roster, Shavkat Rakhmonov stands out from the rest with with an impressive undefeated record. In just under a week, he is set to go up against the ‘Wonderboy’ of the promotion, Stephen Thompson. A victory in this upcoming match could catapult Rakhmonov into a prominent position as a potential title challenger.

UFC 296 is just around the corner and the anticipation for the Rakhmonov vs. Thompson match is at its peak. The Kazakh star has been undefeated till now and is the perfect contender for the welterweight title but seems like Rakhmonov is not in a hurry to get to the top. In a day and age where debutants call out champions, ‘Nomad’ is taking a different route. Why?

When does Shavkat Rakhmonov want to fight for the title?

A victory over Stephen Thompson will open big doors for Shavkat Rakhmonov. Both fighters have a lot at stake as Thompson himself is looking to climb the ladder despite his age. Rakhmonov will be a proper contender if he wins this fight and Thompson will be getting that much-needed motivation if he gets his hands raised.

Rakhmonov is confident in his striking abilities, envisioning an impressive performance next Saturday night. ‘Nomad’ might be inching toward the 170 lbs title as per fans but he is not in a hurry to claim it.

While having a conversation with Ariel Helwani, the 29-year-old voiced his opinion on claiming the welterweight title. Helwani asked Rakhmonov how he envisions his career to be by December 2024. ‘Nomad’ asserted that he is looking forward to having a title fight. “Only God knows, but I wish to fight for the title next year, and my goal is to bring this belt back to Kazakhstan.” Voiced Rakhmonov. ‘Nomad’ claims that he will for sure strip Leon Edwards from his title but the timeline is not ascertained for now.

If Rakhmonov secures a victory against Thompson, he will be much closer to a title shot. How does Thompson plan to face the undefeated warrior? Let’s delve into his strategy and approach.

‘Wonderboy’ is expecting a heavy battle against Rakhmonov

The 40-year-old has no time to waste making conclusions. Thompson is looking forward to having a battle-hardened approach towards the Kazakh warrior. Thompson is not expecting the road to the glory to be easy. While having a conversation with Submission Radio, ‘Wonderboy’ asserts that he’s not expecting an easy fight but a bloody fight.

“Do I feel like Shavkat’s gonna stand there and bang with me? I don’t think so… But, he’s still the type of guy to try to finish. I would rather go out on my shield than just somebody hold me there, you know what I mean? One of the worst feelings I have is after a fight, walking through the airport, and not having a bump or a bruise or an ache to show the battle that I had before,” said Thompson.

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Thompson as well as Rakhmonov is looking forward to clinching victory. How do you think their fight will materialize? Do you expect Rakhmonov to win or do you expect Thompson to snap his winning streak? Tell us your opinion in the comments below.

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