Tag: Stephen Thompson

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals ‘Very serious injury’ suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals 'Very serious injury' suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296Shavkat Rakhmonov entered the cage at UFC 296 with a pre-existing injury, and it almost caused him to pull…

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals 'Very serious injury' suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296

Shavkat Rakhmonov entered the cage at UFC 296 with a pre-existing injury, and it almost caused him to pull out of the fight with Stephen Thompson entirely.

The now 18-0 Rakhmonov continued his reign of domination this Saturday at UFC 296, but according to the young superstar: he almost pulled out of the fight. At the UFC 296 post-fight press conference, Rakhmonov himself via translator admitted to coming into the fight with a serious injury. He explained that he had injured his ankle, and it was a “very serious” injury that was bad enough to have him seriously considering withdrawing from the fight.

Instead of taking the safe route, and withdrawing: Shavkat Rakhmonov told the world how he wanted to roll the dice, and “take a gamble”.

Shavkat Rakhmonov gambles his streak, becoming the first to ever submit Stephen Thompson

“I had a very serious injury and I was even close to pulling out from the fight, but I decided to risk it all,” Shavkat Rakhmonov said via a translator on the UFC post-fight show, “And that’s why I didn’t kick it with my legs, just used my knees. But thank God, I got the victory.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

Now 18-0, and the first man to ever submit Stephen Thompson in his 13-year-long career: the sky is the limit for the ‘Nomad’. Doubtlessly looking to continue his climb, a top-ranked opponent is seemingly all that makes sense for the young superstar.

“Hopefully next time, with God’s willing, I’m going to be 100 percent. But it doesn’t matter,” Shavkat Rakhmonov said. “Whatever injury (I have), you know I’m going to fight to my last blood, until the last sip of blood, because I have to get a win.”

“Hopefully next time, with God’s willing, I’m going to be 100 percent. But it doesn’t matter,” Rakhmonov said. “Whatever injury [I have], you know I’m going to fight to my last blood, until the last sip of blood, because I have to get a win.”

What did you think of Shavkat Rakhmonov’s performance over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296?

Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals ‘Very serious injury’ suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals 'Very serious injury' suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296Shavkat Rakhmonov entered the cage at UFC 296 with a pre-existing injury, and it almost caused him to pull…

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals 'Very serious injury' suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296

Shavkat Rakhmonov entered the cage at UFC 296 with a pre-existing injury, and it almost caused him to pull out of the fight with Stephen Thompson entirely.

The now 18-0 Rakhmonov continued his reign of domination this Saturday at UFC 296, but according to the young superstar: he almost pulled out of the fight. At the UFC 296 post-fight press conference, Rakhmonov himself via translator admitted to coming into the fight with a serious injury. He explained that he had injured his ankle, and it was a “very serious” injury that was bad enough to have him seriously considering withdrawing from the fight.

Instead of taking the safe route, and withdrawing: Shavkat Rakhmonov told the world how he wanted to roll the dice, and “take a gamble”.

Shavkat Rakhmonov gambles his streak, becoming the first to ever submit Stephen Thompson

“I had a very serious injury and I was even close to pulling out from the fight, but I decided to risk it all,” Shavkat Rakhmonov said via a translator on the UFC post-fight show, “And that’s why I didn’t kick it with my legs, just used my knees. But thank God, I got the victory.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

Now 18-0, and the first man to ever submit Stephen Thompson in his 13-year-long career: the sky is the limit for the ‘Nomad’. Doubtlessly looking to continue his climb, a top-ranked opponent is seemingly all that makes sense for the young superstar.

“Hopefully next time, with God’s willing, I’m going to be 100 percent. But it doesn’t matter,” Shavkat Rakhmonov said. “Whatever injury (I have), you know I’m going to fight to my last blood, until the last sip of blood, because I have to get a win.”

“Hopefully next time, with God’s willing, I’m going to be 100 percent. But it doesn’t matter,” Rakhmonov said. “Whatever injury [I have], you know I’m going to fight to my last blood, until the last sip of blood, because I have to get a win.”

What did you think of Shavkat Rakhmonov’s performance over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296?

Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals ‘Very serious injury’ suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals 'Very serious injury' suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296Shavkat Rakhmonov entered the cage at UFC 296 with a pre-existing injury, and it almost caused him to pull…

Shavkat Rakhmonov reveals 'Very serious injury' suffered ahead of Stephen Thompson fight, almost exited UFC 296

Shavkat Rakhmonov entered the cage at UFC 296 with a pre-existing injury, and it almost caused him to pull out of the fight with Stephen Thompson entirely.

The now 18-0 Rakhmonov continued his reign of domination this Saturday at UFC 296, but according to the young superstar: he almost pulled out of the fight. At the UFC 296 post-fight press conference, Rakhmonov himself via translator admitted to coming into the fight with a serious injury. He explained that he had injured his ankle, and it was a “very serious” injury that was bad enough to have him seriously considering withdrawing from the fight.

Instead of taking the safe route, and withdrawing: Shavkat Rakhmonov told the world how he wanted to roll the dice, and “take a gamble”.

Shavkat Rakhmonov gambles his streak, becoming the first to ever submit Stephen Thompson

“I had a very serious injury and I was even close to pulling out from the fight, but I decided to risk it all,” Shavkat Rakhmonov said via a translator on the UFC post-fight show, “And that’s why I didn’t kick it with my legs, just used my knees. But thank God, I got the victory.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

Now 18-0, and the first man to ever submit Stephen Thompson in his 13-year-long career: the sky is the limit for the ‘Nomad’. Doubtlessly looking to continue his climb, a top-ranked opponent is seemingly all that makes sense for the young superstar.

“Hopefully next time, with God’s willing, I’m going to be 100 percent. But it doesn’t matter,” Shavkat Rakhmonov said. “Whatever injury (I have), you know I’m going to fight to my last blood, until the last sip of blood, because I have to get a win.”

“Hopefully next time, with God’s willing, I’m going to be 100 percent. But it doesn’t matter,” Rakhmonov said. “Whatever injury [I have], you know I’m going to fight to my last blood, until the last sip of blood, because I have to get a win.”

What did you think of Shavkat Rakhmonov’s performance over Stephen Thompson at UFC 296?

Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images

Colby Covington calls robbery after UFC 296, eyes Stephen Thompson fight: ‘Everyone thinks he’s a nice guy’

Colby Covington calls for fight with Stephen Thompson after UFC 296 everyone thinks he's a nice guyOff the back of his one-sided decision loss to defending welterweight champion, Leon Edwards at UFC 296 last night,…

Colby Covington calls for fight with Stephen Thompson after UFC 296 everyone thinks he's a nice guy

Off the back of his one-sided decision loss to defending welterweight champion, Leon Edwards at UFC 296 last night, former interim division gold holder, Colby Covington has called for a clash with former two-time title challenger, Stephen Thompson in a quickfire return to the Octagon next year – claiming the Simpsonville native has been overly vocal about him.

Covington, the current number three ranked welterweight contender, headlined the promotion’s final flagship event of the year last night in Las Vegas at UFC 296, turning in a bizarre performance against defending champion, Edwards en route to a one-sided unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) rout. 

As for Thompson, the fan-favorite striker also featured in a main clash last night, succumbing to an eventual second round rear-naked choke loss to the unbeaten finishing ace, Shavkat Rakhmonov in the pair’s high-stakes welterweight clash.

Colby Covington eyes clash with Stephen Thompson after UFC 296

And pointing bias to the judge’s decision against him due to his allegiance to former United States President, Donald Trump – who swiftly left the arena after Covington’s loss, the Clovis native called for a hasty return in 2024, against Thompson next.

“There’s a guy who’s been talking a lot about me in the media, you know,” Colby Covington told assembled media after UFC 296. “Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, you know, everybody thinks he’s a nice guy. He’s had a lot to say about me, so I’d love to see him say that to me in the cage – in the Octagon.”

“He was just saying some stuff before the fight, ‘Oh, he’s going to get his jaw broke,’” Colby Covington continued. “He’s always talked sh*t, so I’d love to see him say it to my face. You know, he’s always got things to say to you guys in the media. But I’ve never seen him come up to me face-to-face. We were backstage at the press conference and he kept his head down the whole time. …” 

Who wins in a future fight: Colby Covington or Stephen Thompson?

Shavkat Rakhmonov submits Stephen Thompson, moves to 18-0, lands 18 finishes – UFC 296 Highlights

Shavkat Rakhmonov submits Stephen Thompson moves to 18-0 all finishes UFC 296 HighlightsContinuing his truly spectacular roughshod run to the welterweight championship, unbeaten Kazakh contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov becomes the first to…

Shavkat Rakhmonov submits Stephen Thompson moves to 18-0 all finishes UFC 296 Highlights

Continuing his truly spectacular roughshod run to the welterweight championship, unbeaten Kazakh contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov becomes the first to submit former title challenger, Stephen Thompson with a second round rear-naked choke at UFC 296.

Rakhmonov, who entered tonight’s main card clash with former two-time title chaser, Thompson off the back of a March rear-naked choke win over Geoff Neal, holding the number five rank in the division.

And improving to 18-0 as a professional tonight, Uzbekistan-born contender, Rakhmonov also records his eighteenth straight career stoppage.

Battling with Simpsonville striker, Thompson in the clinch in the opening round, Rakhmonov took down the fan-favorite in the second frame — eventually forcing a rear-naked choke win with just 4 seconds remaining on the clock.

Off the back of his win, Rakhmonov called for a title charge against the victor of tonight’s UFC 296 headliner between Leon Edwards, and Colby Covington.

Below, catch the highlights from Shavkat Rakhmonov win at UFC 296

Colby Covington mocks Stephen Thompson pre-UFC 296: ‘He should be on a list that the community knows about’

Colby Covington hits out at Stephen Thompson he should be on a community notice list UFC 296Unleashing a vicious tirade aimed at opponent, Leon Edwards, and fellow welterweight contender, Ian Garry ahead of UFC 296…

Colby Covington hits out at Stephen Thompson he should be on a community notice list UFC 296

Unleashing a vicious tirade aimed at opponent, Leon Edwards, and fellow welterweight contender, Ian Garry ahead of UFC 296 this weekend, Colby Covington also hit out at former title challenger, Stephen Thompson, alluding to apparent predatory nature from the fan-favorite Simpsonville striker at last night’s pre-fight press conference.

Covington, a former interim welterweight champion, headlines UFC 296 this weekend against incumbent gold holder, Edwards, in the pair’s heated grudge match for the division’s undisputed crown.

And hitting out at the Birmingham native in a vicious barb mocking the champion’s late father, who was shot dead inside a London nightclub when Edwards was 13 years old, Covington was struck in the face with a water bottle as a result.

Furthermore, the Clovis native also hit out at unbeaten welterweight striker, Garry, accusing the Dublin native’s wife and manager, Layla Anna-Lee of infidelity and labelling the latter a “hoe” which Garry should not have turned into a “housewife”.

Colby Covington targets Stephen Thompson in bizarre barb

Prior to that, however, MMA Masters trainee, Covington hit out at the above-mentioned, Thompson – who takes on the undefeated finishing ace, Shavkat Rakhmonov in a high-stakes main card clash at UFC 296. 

“Hey, I got to be honest, Stephen (Thompson) shouldn’t be on the top 10 list, he shouldn’t be on the pound-for-pound list, but he should be on the list that all the community knows about,” Colby Covington said at last night’s pre-fight press conference ahead of UFC 296”

“I’m not saying he’s a p*dophile but, man, he checks all the boxes,” Colby Covington continued. 

Sidelined since March of last year, the hugely-outspoken, Covington, who was largely criticized for his outlandish and abrasive tirade, most recently turned in a one-sided unanimous decision win over former two-time title challenger, Jorge Masvidal.