Shavkat Rakhmonov: UFC Return 'Far From Guaranteed'

Shavkat Rakhmonov says his return to the UFC octagon is far from guaranteed, nearly two years after he last fought through a badly damaged knee to beat Ian Machado Garry. The unbeaten welterweight has not competed since that split-decision win at UFC 310 in December 2024, and in a new interview he made clear the layoff has nothing to do with retirement talk and everything to do with a knee that still hasn't healed right.

What Did Shavkat Rakhmonov Say About His Knee Injury?

Rakhmonov revealed he walked into the Garry fight already compromised, then made it worse. "I already had an injury going into the Ian Garry fight," he said. "I stepped in; I hadn't fought for a year; I wanted to fight. That old injury was still bothering me a lot. My leg was swollen. And when he was striking me, it was probably because I completely lacked a ligament. I couldn't really feel that strike, in general."

Looking back, Rakhmonov now believes he never should have taken the fight in the first place. "I actually shouldn't even have fought Ian Garry at all. With injuries like that, I shouldn't have fought at all; I just took a risk. That's the Kazakh way. Kazakhs are very daring. They're not afraid."

That framing came with a pointed comparison to two of the sport's biggest names. Rakhmonov said that if it had been "some other Dagestani fighter like Khabib or Islam Makhachev, they definitely would've refused" to fight hurt.

Why Rakhmonov's Comeback Timeline Is Still Unclear

Rakhmonov stepped in against Ian Machado Garry only after then-champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from a scheduled welterweight title fight with a foot injury, and he has not fought since grinding out that decision. The layoff now sits at nearly two years, and by his own account the knee remains a serious concern rather than a fully closed chapter. He stopped short of ruling out a return, but his comments make clear there is no fight currently on the calendar and no firm timetable for when, or if, he steps back in against the UFC's top 170-pound contenders.

For a fighter who built a 19-0 record and a reputation as arguably the most avoided man in the welterweight division, the uncertainty is notable. Rakhmonov was a title fight away from UFC gold before the injury derailed him, and every month he stays out is a month the division moves on without him.

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks can't price a Rakhmonov fight that isn't booked, and that's exactly the problem for bettors who like him as a future title threat. Futures markets on the welterweight belt have to treat him as a wildcard until there's real clarity on the knee, since oddsmakers need confidence a fighter can actually make it to the cage healthy before shortening his number. Until Rakhmonov commits to a return date, any welterweight title futures bet built around him carries real variance risk. Fans who believe in his ceiling may find value later if he re-emerges healthy and the market hasn't fully priced in his talent, but backing him now is a bet on recovery as much as skill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why hasn't Shavkat Rakhmonov fought since December 2024?

Shavkat Rakhmonov has been sidelined by a serious knee injury that he was already dealing with before his decision win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 and that worsened during the fight.

Is Shavkat Rakhmonov retiring from the UFC?

No. Rakhmonov has not announced retirement, but he says his return to the UFC is far from guaranteed given the ongoing knee problems.

What is Shavkat Rakhmonov's UFC record?

Shavkat Rakhmonov is undefeated at 19-0 as a professional, with his last fight being a decision win over Ian Machado Garry in December 2024.