'Everything on line' for Machado Garry vs UFC's 'Boogeyman'

Ian Machado Garry (right) and Shavkat Rakhmonov have a combined 33-fight unbeaten streak

Ian Machado Garry wears a thoughtful expression when he contemplates a special moment he shared with his family this week.

Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas, Machado Garry's two-year-old son Leo spotted his father's face on a billboard promoting his fight at UFC 310 against Shavkat Rakhmonov on Saturday.

"To be travelling the world with my family, seeing my face on billboards driving down the motorway and me and my wife getting all emotional about it. And then seeing my kid point at billboards and go 'Papa, daddy!' - I am living the dream," Machado Garry tells BBC Sport.

Ireland's Machado Garry, 27, is unbeaten, having won the first 15 bouts of his career - but faces a fighter pundits have dubbed 'The Boogeyman' in Kazakhstan's 30-year-old Rakhmonov, who is also unbeaten, triumphing in 18 fights.

To Machado Garry, whose wearing a hoodie which reads "Future champion", it does not matter who he is against, his confidence is unwavering because of the support network he embraces outside the octagon.

Machado Garry admits "everything is on the line" against Rakhmonov, but sits forward, smiles and radiates excitement as he predicts victory.

"I've had nothing but love, joy, laughter and excitement in my family," says Machado Garry.

"I am already winning at life, I just have to go out there and have fun on Saturday night and everything will be gifted to me.

"I’m going to go out there and beat Shavkat."

With 18 finishes - six of them in the UFC - it's easy to see why people are referring to Rakhmonov as The Boogeyman.

He was originally set to face champion Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title, but was left looking for another opponent when the American pulled out of the bout with injury.

According to Rakhmonov, nobody would agree to fight him, including former champion Kamaru Usman and interim title-holder Colby Covington, until Machado Garry stepped up three weeks ago.

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The co-main event is a five-round contest and will determine the number-one contender for Muhammad's title when he returns from injury in the next few months.

It is an opportunity Machado Garry has been eyeing since he started training as a 10-year-old.

"I was a young kid sat in Dublin, Ireland dreaming about being a UFC champion. I'm one fight away from getting that opportunity and I'm going to take it with everything I possibly can and by any means necessary," said Machado Garry.

"He's gone out there and dominated everyone he's ever fought against and I'm excited to prove that I'm better than that man."

Machado Garry's last outing was a decision win over Britain's Michael 'Venom' Page in June with the victory seeing him move up to seventh in the UFC's welterweight rankings.

He already had a fight scheduled against ninth-ranked American Joaquin Buckley on 14 December, so is facing Rakhmonov on short notice after the UFC's reshuffle.

Rakhmonov is third in the rankings so opting to fight him was a no-brainer, according to Machado Garry.

"If I fight Joaquin, the risk is I lose, the reward is I win and move one step up the rankings. With Shavkat, the risk is I lose, the reward is I'm the number-one contender in the world and I'm next in line for that belt," he added.

"So the risk and reward is worth it - go out there, get motivated, get excited and earn the right to be next in line for that belt."

Things got heated at the final face-off on Friday in Las Vegas

Machado Garry and Rakhmonov have sparred in the past, with Rakhmonov saying the Irishman tapped to a submission

Machado Garry will secure a title shot with a win, the last time an Irishman had the chance to fight for a UFC belt was in 2018