Rakhmonov Wrestling Again as Makhachev Fires Back

Shavkat Rakhmonov is back on the wrestling mats, an encouraging sign in his recovery from multiple leg injuries that have kept the unbeaten welterweight contender out of the UFC cage.

Footage of Rakhmonov training resurfaced this week just as a public back-and-forth with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev picked up steam. Rakhmonov had voiced frustration after Makhachev did not name him as the next contender in line, and Makhachev pushed back hard on that idea given where Rakhmonov's body is at right now. Makhachev said of Rakhmonov's situation, "He gave an interview with a huge brace on his knee. He wants me to choose him and then wait for 1.5 years for him to recover?"

What's the Status of Shavkat Rakhmonov's Injury?

Rakhmonov has been dealing with multiple leg injuries that sidelined him from active competition, and the new training footage showing him back to live wrestling is the clearest public sign yet that his rehab is progressing. He was seen in a recent interview still wearing a large knee brace, which is the detail Makhachev pointed to directly when explaining why he isn't ready to commit to a timeline for a Rakhmonov fight.

Why Is Islam Makhachev Pushing Back?

Makhachev's response reads less like a shot at Rakhmonov's skill and more like a practical business argument. A champion doesn't want to be parked on the sideline for a year and a half waiting on a challenger's knee to fully heal, especially when Makhachev has other options in a stacked lightweight and welterweight picture. Rakhmonov, for his part, clearly wants his name back in the contender conversation and isn't shy about saying so publicly.

For bettors, this exchange matters more for what it signals about timing than about styles or a matchup price. Nothing here suggests a Makhachev-Rakhmonov fight is close to being finalized, so any market activity around it right now is speculative at best. The more relevant number to watch is how quickly Rakhmonov's actual return fight gets booked. Once the UFC pencils in his comeback opponent, that's when a real line and a real form check become useful. Until then, the training video is worth banking as a positive marker for his health, not a green light for the title shot he wants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shavkat Rakhmonov cleared to fight again?

There's no official clearance announced, but Shavkat Rakhmonov has been seen back on the wrestling mats training, which is being viewed as an encouraging sign in his recovery from multiple leg injuries.

What did Islam Makhachev say about Shavkat Rakhmonov?

Islam Makhachev pushed back on Shavkat Rakhmonov's push to be named next contender, pointing out that Rakhmonov gave an interview wearing a large knee brace and questioning why Makhachev would commit to him only to potentially wait about a year and a half for him to recover.

Why isn't Shavkat Rakhmonov fighting right now?

Shavkat Rakhmonov has been out of action while recovering from multiple leg injuries, which is also the reason Islam Makhachev cited for not committing to him as the next challenger.