Rakhmonov: I Shouldn't Have Fought Garry Hurt

Shavkat Rakhmonov says he never should have taken his UFC 310 fight with Ian Machado Garry given the injury he was carrying into that bout.

Rakhmonov beat Garry by unanimous decision in a five-round welterweight clash in December 2024, but he has not fought since. Speaking to Alfredo Auditore for ALF Global, Rakhmonov revealed he was already dealing with a lingering injury heading into fight week and that it flared up badly in the final two weeks of camp.

"I already had an injury going into the Ian Garry fight," Rakhmonov said. "I stepped in, I hadn't fought for a year. I wanted to fight. Even before that, I had health problems too, and it turned out that there were only two weeks left before the Ian Garry fight. That old injury was still bothering me a lot. My leg was swollen."

Why Rakhmonov Regrets Taking the Garry Fight

Rakhmonov made clear he believes fighting hurt cost him a shot at the title. "Well, that's my problem," he said. "I couldn't fight. If I had fought, I could've become champion, but that's how it turned out. I was injured. What can I do? We are only human, and we are bound to make plenty of mistakes. If you really look at it, I also made a wide variety of mistakes throughout my sports career. I actually shouldn't have even fought Ian Machado Garry at all."

Garry has claimed credit for hurting Rakhmonov's knee during the fight, but Rakhmonov's comments suggest the issue predated that night. The undefeated Kazakh, still 19-0, has not competed since and did not return over the course of 2025 or 2026 due to ongoing injury setbacks.

What This Means for the Welterweight Picture

Rakhmonov's extended absence has left him on the outside of the welterweight title conversation despite an unbeaten record and a signature win over a ranked contender in Garry. The longer he sits out, the more that logjam at the top of 155 tightens, and any return will likely require him to work his way back into title contention rather than walk straight into a shot. Fans and analysts have drawn comparisons to Dominick Cruz, who battled a similarly brutal run of injuries before twice reclaiming UFC gold, as a reason not to write Rakhmonov off.

Betting Angle

Books have had little reason to price Rakhmonov in active markets given he has not been booked, and that is unlikely to change until a return date firms up. For bettors, the real number to watch will be how sportsbooks treat him in his first fight back. A long layoff after injury is exactly the kind of spot where oddsmakers build in rust, so expect any comeback line to reflect uncertainty about his conditioning and knee even against a live betting market that still respects his talent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Shavkat Rakhmonov regret fighting Ian Machado Garry?

Shavkat Rakhmonov said he was already dealing with a lingering leg injury before UFC 310 and believes he should not have fought Ian Machado Garry while hurt, saying he could have become champion otherwise.

Did Shavkat Rakhmonov win his fight with Ian Machado Garry?

Yes, Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision in the UFC 310 co-main event in December 2024.

When will Shavkat Rakhmonov fight again?

Shavkat Rakhmonov has not competed since his December 2024 win over Ian Machado Garry and did not return during 2025 or 2026 due to ongoing injury issues.