New Shavkat Rakhmonov Video Has Fans Concerned About Fighter's Future

It wasn't a matter of if, but when. UFC Welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov was tearing through the division, finishing all but one of his opponents along the way. After a 5-round decision victory over Ian Machado Garry, the welterweight title being wrapped around the Kazakh's waist seemed inevitable.

That was until injuries took their toll.

Rakhmonov has not fought since December 2024, and a recent setback in his recovery forced a second knee surgery. It is estimated that he may not return until late 2026 at best.

A recent video showing his rehab has fans concerned. Rakhmonov is slowly performing a one-legged Romanian Deadlift, without any weight. He is moving gingerly and appears to have lost a great deal of muscle mass in his legs.

This has drawn parallels to a young Khabib Nurmagomedov, who lost two years of his career due to injury. It was a happy ending for Khabib, as he eventually became one of the most dominant champions in history. But other promising fighters who dealt with injuries and health issues, like Tony Ferguson and Zabit Magomedsharipov, had it greatly affect their careers.

At age 31, the clock is ticking. Luckily, the undefeated fighter hasn't taken much damage inside the cage, so his chin should still hold up. Hopefully his body cooperates if and when he makes his return. It will be interesting to see if he has a tune-up fight or if he jumps back into title contention.

MMA is an unforgiving sport. The fall from grace can be sudden. It would be a shame if fans were robbed of witnessing such a promising career. But Rakhmonov is known for his mental toughness (he once fought for half a round without his mouthpiece). It will likely take more than an injury setback to derail the nomad.

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 1:14 PM.