Rakhmonov Admits UFC Return Far From Guaranteed

Shavkat Rakhmonov says his return to the octagon is uncertain after the knee injury he carried into his December 2024 win over Ian Garry worsened during the fight.

The unbeaten welterweight told Alf Global he entered that bout compromised and probably should not have competed at all. He also claimed Dagestani fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev would have pulled out under similar circumstances. "If it had been some other Dagestani fighter like Khabib or Islam Makhachev, they definitely would've refused," he said, per Sherdog.

Rakhmonov said the injury existed before the bout and deteriorated once he took strikes. "I completely lacked a ligament," he explained. "I couldn't really feel that strike, in general." He described his decision to fight through it as the Kazakh way — daring and unafraid — but acknowledged the cost. Had he been healthy, he believes he would have fought for the title by now.

The 30-year-old has been out of action for more than 20 months. He did not confirm whether he plans to return or whether the promotion has offered him a date.