Shavkat Rakhmonov has been officially removed from the UFC welterweight rankings following another knee injury that requires surgery, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Independent. The Kazakh fighter, 31, last competed in December 2024, defeating Ian Machado Garry in a No. 1 contender bout, but his anticipated title match against Belal Muhammad was canceled due to the knee issue that had persisted during his previous fight.
Rakhmonov had indicated that he fought through the knee injury against Machado Garry, which ultimately prevented him from facing Muhammad last spring. The bout with Muhammad was initially scheduled for December 2024, but Muhammad suffered a bone infection in his foot, prompting Machado Garry to step in. Rakhmonov won the match on points, marking the first opponent not to be stopped by him.
Muhammad returned in May 2025 but lost the title to Jack Della Maddalena, who then relinquished it to Islam Makhachev in November. Throughout this period, Rakhmonov has maintained that he intends to fight for the welterweight belt upon recovery. After re-injuring his knee, Rakhmonov underwent surgery for a second time within the year and is now expected to remain sidelined until late 2026 at the earliest, leading to his removal from the UFC rankings.
In January, social media videos showed Rakhmonov on crutches and wearing a leg brace, which he confirmed in a statement. He wrote, “A fighter’s path has never been easy. Life doesn’t give us challenges we can’t overcome. Every dream comes at a price, and sometimes that price is your health. Today, I have to be honest: due to ongoing injuries, I’ve had another surgery and will need time to fully recover. As a result, my return to the Octagon will be postponed. It’s not easy to accept, but I truly believe every setback is part of a bigger plan. I will come back stronger, smarter, and hungrier than ever. My goal is still alive. The UFC belt still has to come to Kazakhstan. Thank you to everyone who stands by me no matter what. This is not the end of the journey, it’s an important chapter of it.”
A potential showdown between the undefeated Rakhmonov (19-0, 18 stoppages) and current champion Makhachev (28-1, 18 stoppages) remains highly anticipated, though the fight is increasingly unlikely in the near term.
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