A top contender was removed from the welterweight rankings which Kamaru Usman once ruled.
Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is no longer in the UFC’s 170-pound rankings after re-injuring his knee and undergoing surgery recently. Rakhmonov, who hasn’t competed since defeating Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024, is expected to be sidelined for at least nine months.
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Rakhmonov’s removal from the rankings gives Usman one less contender to worry about as he attempts to reclaim his UFC welterweight title. However, Usman can’t help but feel bad for the undefeated star.
“I understand you, but they left Jon (Jones) in the rankings for almost two years,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “I’m not disputing that with Jon. I didn’t dispute it when he was kept in the rankings. I never disputed that – rightfully so. Basically, we’re picking and choosing when we leave someone in the rankings and when we don’t leave them in the rankings now?”
Usman himself was sidelined with a slew of injuries before returning to defeat Joaquin Buckley this past June. He urges Rakhmonov to move from his home country of Kazhakhstan and find a safer training environment. Rakhmonov usually trains at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, but only once he has a fight booked.
“It’s not that he didn’t perform, it’s just that you can’t control some of these things,” Usman said. “I feel bad for him because all you want to do is be healthy and you want to compete and just go out and do something and provide for your family, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. He continues to sustain these injuries.
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“One, I would say let’s find a new camp – if this is really what you still want to do, let’s find a new camp, and let’s take care of our body until you’re done with the sport and then you can move home and lead your life the way you want to lead your life. But if you still have aspirations of being a champion and doing all these phenomenal things, then we have to potentially look for a change because I believe this is the second or third time now undergoing surgery with the same injury.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Kamaru Usman reacts to Shavkat Rakhmonov injury, removal from rankings
