Rakhmonov vs Thompson

Who won Rakhmonov vs Thompson?

Shavkat Rakhmonov beat Stephen Thompson by submission in the 2nd round during the main card of UFC 296, on Saturday 16th December 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Welterweight division, which meant the weight limit was 170 pounds (12.1 stone or 77.1 KG).

Rakhmonov vs Thompson stats

Shavkat Rakhmonov stepped into the octagon with an undefeated record of 17 wins, zero losses and 0 draws, 8 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 9 by submission.

Stephen Thompson made his way to the cage with a record of 17 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, 8 of those wins coming by knock out and 1 by submission.

Shavkat Rakhmonov's UFC record stood at 6-0-0, while Stephen Thompson's came in at 12-7-1.

The stats suggested that Rakhmonov and Thompson have similar power, both with a 47% knock out percentage.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Rakhmonov had a massive advantage over Thompson, boasting a 53% submission rate over Thompson's 6%.

Shavkat Rakhmonov was the younger man by 12 years, at 29 years old.

Rakhmonov had a height advantage of 1 inch over Thompson. That also extended to a 2-inch reach advantage.

Rakhmonov was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 7 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2014, 4 years and 8 months later than Thompson, whose first professional fight was in 2010. He had fought 42 less professional rounds, 29 to Thompson's 71.

Rakhmonov vs Thompson form

Thompson had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance twice.

In his last fight before this contest, he had won against Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland on 3rd December 2022 by knockout in the 4th round at Amway Center, Orlando, United States.

Previous to that, he had lost to Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night on 18th December 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest.

Going into that contest, he had been beaten by Gilbert Burns at UFC 264 on 10th July 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Before that, he had beaten Geoff Neal at UFC Vegas 17 on 19th December 2020 by unanimous decision in their 5 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

He had defeated Vicente Luque at UFC 244 on 2nd November 2019 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

Activity check

Rakhmonov's last 4 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 10 months and 2 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 8 months and 16 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 8 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2 rounds on average.

Thompson's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years, 5 months and 26 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 10 months and 23 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 18 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.6 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Rakhmonov vs Thompson?

Shavkat Rakhmonov was a 7/50 (-710) favourite going into the contest, while Stephen Thompson made his way into the ring at 5/1 (+500) with oddsmakers.