The welterweight title picture became even more crowded after Shavkat Rakhmonov’s performance against Stephen Thompson in the final pay-per-view of the year.
At UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) submitted his claim to No.1 contender status by submitting former title challenger Thompson (17-7-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) at 4:56 in Round 2 with a rear-naked choke.
Rakhmonov applied pressure after the initial feel-out process, clinching with Thompson against the cage. The crowd grew restless as the position began to stall out, prompting a brief exchange of short punches. Rakhmonov eventually isolated a leg and lifted it high, but was unsuccessful in getting Thompson to the ground. They separated with less than a minute to go, and Thompson was able to land a few strikes before the horn.
