Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Stephen Thompson Announced for UFC 296
Another big bout is added to UFC 296 main card as Shavkat Rakhmovov will face Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
Wonderboy took to Twitter on Friday evening to announce that UFC offered him the fight against Rakhmonov and he has accepted it for UFC 296 PPV. Rakhmonov responded by tweeting, “Let’s Go”.
Later in the evening, Dana White took to social media to confirm the welterweight bout for UFC 296 PPV. White also announced a lightweight fight between Paddy Pimblett and Stephen Thompson.
BREAKING!!! More fights on Dec. 16th in Vegas. Tickets on sale Oct. 20th #UFC296 pic.twitter.com/JHpQtqYSbw
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 23, 2023
Both fighters had their last bouts canceled. Shavkat Rakhmonov was set to take on Kelvin Gastelum in the co-main event of Noche UFC, but Gastelum pulled out due to injury. Thompson was set to take on UFC 291 and weighed in for the event. However, his opponent Michael Pereira by 3 lbs, and Thompson decided not to fight at catchweight.
Rakhmonov was last in action at UFC 285 where he defeated Goeff Neal in a war that ended in the fourth minute of round 3. He has an unbeaten record in 17 MMA bouts, 5 of which have come in UFC. All of these wins have come via knockout or submission.
Thompson was last in action to beat Kevin Holland at a Fight Night in December last year. He has 3 wins in his last 5 bouts while his UFC record stands at 12-6-1.
UFC 296 PPV is set to take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, on December 16, 2023. The event will have title fights in the main event and co-main event.
