Currently, the odds on Rakhmonov winning are 1.244 (80.39% probability), while Thompson’s success is rated at odds of 4.2 (23.81% probability).
Bookmakers released the starting odds shortly after UFC CEO, Dana White, officially announced the upcoming fight.
Shavkat Rakhmonov, 28, recorded his fifth UFC win in March with a third-round choke finish of Jeff Neal. In total, “Nomad” has seventeen professional victories, with none of his opponents lasting until the end of the fight.
Last December, Stephen Thompson put his career back on track by defeating Kevin Holland by technical knockout, whom the corner did not release for the fifth round. Prior to that, the 40-year-old American had suffered two consecutive defeats, losing by decisions to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad.
Shavkat Rakhmonov and Stephen Thompson are currently ranked sixth and seventh in the UFC welterweight division rankings, respectively.
The main event of UFC 296 will be a welterweight title fight between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington.