TLDR
- Rakhmonov has been out of action for more than 20 months following knee complications from his December 2024 fight with Ian Garry
- He fought with a missing ligament and required two surgeries on his left knee after the bout
- The Kazakh fighter believes he should be the number one contender for Islam Makhachev‘s welterweight title
- Rakhmonov claims Dagestani fighters like Khabib and Islam would have pulled out under similar injury circumstances
- He has not confirmed plans to return or received a fight date from the UFC
Sources: yardbarker.com
Shavkat Rakhmonov admits his return to the UFC is far from certain after a knee injury that has kept him out of action for more than 20 months. The welterweight contender revealed he fought with a missing ligament during his December 2024 win over Ian Garry and probably should not have competed at all.
“I completely lacked a ligament,” Rakhmonov told ALF Global. “I couldn’t really feel that strike, in general.”
The 30-year-old Kazakh fighter said he entered the Garry bout already compromised. The injury worsened during the fight when he took strikes, forcing him to undergo two surgeries on his left knee.
Rakhmonov claimed that other fighters would have withdrawn under similar circumstances. He specifically mentioned Dagestani fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
“If it had been some other Dagestani fighter like Khabib or Islam Makhachev, they definitely would’ve refused,” he said. He described his decision to fight through the injury as the Kazakh way — daring and unafraid — but acknowledged the cost.
🇮🇪😬Shavkat Rakhmonov reacts to Ian Garry saying that he 'ended' Shavkat's career:
"I already had an injury going into that fight, I stepped in, I hadn't fought for a year, I wanted to fight.
Although I had health problems two weeks before the Ian Garry fight, my leg was… pic.twitter.com/Y36D6HdYr2
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 6, 2026
Title Shot Slipped Away During Recovery
Before his knee injury, Rakhmonov appeared next in line for a welterweight title shot against Jack Della Maddalena. The unbeaten fighter had won seven straight fights in the UFC and built a convincing case as the top contender.
While Rakhmonov recovered, Islam Makhachev moved up from lightweight to welterweight. The Dagestani fighter defeated Jack Della Maddalena to become a two-division champion, then defended the welterweight belt against Ian Garry.
Rakhmonov believes he deserved the title shot over Makhachev. “Islam became champion. He started saying he wanted to fight Arman [Tsarukyan] back and forth,” Rakhmonov told Red Corner MMA. “The most serious contender, the one who deserved it, was me.”
The Kazakh fighter pointed to his winning streak as proof. “Maybe I haven’t fought for a year, but I won seven fights in the UFC,” he said.
Confidence Despite Long Layoff
Rakhmonov remains confident he would present serious problems for Makhachev if they ever meet. He believes his striking would give him an advantage over the grappling specialist.
“I think my stand-up is better than Islam’s,” Rakhmonov told ALF Global. “I truly believe that I’m the toughest opponent for Islam right now, and he’s also the toughest opponent for me personally.”
The fighter also believes he can defend Makhachev’s takedowns. “Yes, I will defend myself well,” he said. “I think my stances are better than Islam’s. The fight will show, but this is my opinion.”
Javier Mendez, Makhachev’s coach, has acknowledged Rakhmonov as a dangerous challenger. After watching Ian Garry push Makhachev in their title fight, Mendez ranked the Kazakh fighter near the top of potential welterweight threats.
Rakhmonov is back in the gym after months on the shelf. Fans may have to wait until early 2027 to see him inside the Octagon again, though he has not confirmed whether he plans to return.
The UFC has not offered him a fight date. Other contenders like Carlos Prates, Michael Morales, and Arman Tsarukyan are positioning themselves for title opportunities while Rakhmonov remains sidelined.
