UFC 254 a strong fight card: Oliveira vs Rakhmonov and Murphy vs Shakirova
UFC 254 promises to be one of the best cards in a year of great UFC fight cards. We want to take a look at some of the fights outside of the main event.
Two fights we are particularly interested in watching are Oliveira vs Rakhmonov and Murphy vs Shakirova.
Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira vs Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov
Really, the Oliveira vs Rakhmonov fight in the UFC Welterweight division is the fight that stands out to us most. Why? It features the always exciting Cowboy Oliveira as a late replacement to step in against the first male fighter from Kazakhstan to step foot into the octagon.
The Nomad, Shavkat Rakhmonov
Shavkat Rakhmonov steps into the UFC Octagon with and impressive undefeated record of 12-0. He is the reigning M1 Welterweight Champion, where he successfully defended his title one time after winning the belt.
I am excited to see the Nomad face top shelf competition in Oliveira, a crafty and experienced UFC veteran who is dangerous everywhere inside the octagon. Even though Oliveira seems like he has been fighting in the UFC forever, he is only 32 years old.
Fighting out of Kazakhstan
Rakhmonov is only 26 years old, and he is looking to make waves outside of his landlocked country, Kazakhstan, which is the seventh largest country in the world by size. Traditionally, the Kazakh people were a nomadic people who moved about the great Kazakh Steppe, herding their livestock to better pasture. The Kazakhs would live in yurts, portable tent-like dwellings. Kazakh cuisine is famous for dishes like beshbarmak and kumis, a traditional Kazakh beverage. In my experience, the people of Kazakhstan are strong, resilient, and a very proud people.
Shavkat Rakhmonov will carry the pride of his nation on his shoulders when he enters the UFC octagon on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Rakhmonov will certainly look to remain undefeated as he takes on the rough and tumble cowboy from Brazil.
The Nomad vs the Cowboy
I am excited to see Shavkat the Nomad in action in the UFC because I believe it is high time that fighters from Central Asia break through to the top MMA promotions in the world. Especially fighters from Kazakhstan, although, I might be biased as I lived there for two years, a different lifetime ago.
I am a fan of Oliveira, but I will be rooting for Rakhmonov to finish the fight in exciting style. I’m a big fan of Rahkmonov’s nickname too.
Fighting out of Uzebekistan
Incredibly, fighting on the main card at UFC 254 will be Liliya Shakirova. The 29 year old fighter comes in as a late replacement to face UFC veteran Lauren Murphy. Shakirova will have her hands full in her UFC debut, as Murphy is as tough as they come.
Liliya Shairova:
Liliya Shakirova has never been finished in her career. She enters the octagon on Fight Island boasting an MMA record of 8-1, with 3 of those wins coming by knockout.
Lauren Murphy: As tough as they come
Lauren Murphy has an MMA record of 13-4, and she is 5-4 in the UFC. Interestingly, she has fought at Featherweight and Bantamweight in the past. So she is a big 125 pounder, and 8 of her wins have come by way of knockout. Like Shakirova, Murphy has never been finished in her MMA career.
Murphy vs Shakirova: All out War
I’m expecting an all out war between Shakirova and Murphy, and I expect both women will push the action and look for a finish.
Breaking out from Central Asia
Along with UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko, and her sister Antonina Shevchenko, Liliya Shakirova promises to be another great addition to the UFC from Central Asia.
I hope someone gives her a cool nickname. The Uzebek Assassin? Hips don’t lie? I’ll keep thinking of something more appropriate to Central Asia, a beautiful place very close to my heart.
It appears that the damn has burst, and I hope to see more fighters from Uzebekistan, Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan break through and flow into the UFC.
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- UFC 254 a strong fight card: Oliveira vs Rakhmonov and Murphy vs Shakirova
