It’s been a difficult past few years for Shavkat Rakhmonov, who was forced to decline a UFC welterweight title shot nearly a year ago and still hasn’t made his way back.
Undefeated contender Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was last seen at UFC 310 in December 2024 when he earned a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry to put himself at the forefront of the 170-pound title queue.
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Rakhmonov, 31, carried a knee injury into the bout with Machado Garry that worsened over five rounds of fighting. It prevented him from accepting a title opportunity against then-champ Belal Muhammad in May 2025, and he’s been on the sidelines ever since.
The Kazakhstani fighter experienced a setback in January that required another knee surgery, and he’s been largely quiet since. It’s clear Rakhmonov is working hard behind the scenes, though. He recently posted an Instagram Story with footage of him going through the rehabilitation process (via X):
Following his most recent surgery, Rakhmonov’s team told MMA Junkie the fighter was hopeful for a return in late 2026. It’s unknown if that timeline is still in play, and if so, whom he could face in his comeback fight.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC contender Shavkat Rakhmonov rehabs knee injury
