TLDR
- Shavkat Rakhmonov has been sidelined since defeating Ian Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024 due to a knee injury
- Rakhmonov was originally scheduled to fight Belal Muhammad for the title but Muhammad withdrew with an injury
- Islam Makhachev now holds the welterweight title after defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322
- Rakhmonov wants to test Makhachev’s skills firsthand and believes he can challenge him everywhere
- The undefeated fighter is willing to fight anyone on his timeline to secure a title shot, targeting a return in early 2026
Shavkat Rakhmonov has not fought since his unanimous decision victory over Ian Garry at UFC 310 last December. The win kept his undefeated record intact at 19-0. However, he suffered a knee injury during the bout that has kept him out of action.
The 31-year-old Kazakh fighter was originally scheduled to challenge Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title at UFC 310. Muhammad withdrew from the fight with a toe injury. Rakhmonov accepted a fight against Garry instead and handed the Irish fighter his first professional loss.
While Rakhmonov recovered from his injury, the welterweight division continued moving forward. Islam Makhachev moved up from lightweight and defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. The former lightweight champion controlled Maddalena for five rounds to earn a unanimous decision win and claim the welterweight title.
Rakhmonov now wants to challenge Makhachev for the belt. The undefeated fighter is not fully convinced by Makhachev’s performance against Maddalena. He wants to test the champion’s skills firsthand.
“I believe Islam had a great performance,” Rakhmonov said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “But I also want to find out for myself: Is it JDM had such a bad performance or Islam had such a good performance?”
Rakhmonov believes his well-rounded skill set can pose problems for Makhachev. He thinks he can make the fight difficult in all areas. The Kazakh fighter has seven UFC wins with six finishes, showing his ability to end fights.
Title Picture Complications
The welterweight division has several contenders making noise. Ian Garry now ranks No. 2 despite losing to Rakhmonov. Garry insists he deserves the next title shot.
Rakhmonov dismissed Garry’s claims on social media. “No trash talk, just facts: Ian Garry lost to me while I was injured,” Rakhmonov wrote on Twitter. “He hasn’t finished anyone in his last six fights, and Prates nearly stopped him.”
Other fighters are also positioning themselves for title opportunities. Former champion Kamaru Usman continues talking about a comeback. Michael Morales is on a winning streak, and Carlos Prates has emerged as another strong prospect.
Makhachev recently stated that Rakhmonov’s inactivity has made him less relevant in the immediate title picture. However, Makhachev said he is ready to fight Rakhmonov if the UFC decides he deserves the next shot.
Return Timeline
Rakhmonov hopes to return to action in early 2026. He would prefer to fight for the title immediately. However, he understands the timing may not align with Makhachev’s schedule.
“Yes, I would prefer to fight for the title next, but I saw this timeline will not work for Islam in February or March, and he will look to fight in April or May,” Rakhmonov told Helwani. “If I can fight Islam next, I’m ready.”
The undefeated fighter is willing to take another fight if necessary. He wants to prove he is the rightful number one contender. Rakhmonov said he will fight whoever fits his timeline and puts him back in position for a title shot.
Rakhmonov did not name specific opponents he would accept. He simply stated he is willing to fight “anyone” standing between him and the championship. Rakhmonov remains ranked No. 3 in the welterweight division and many fans still view him as the top contender at 170 pounds.
