Shavkat Rakhmonov admits UFC return is far from guaranteed

Unbeaten UFC welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov has cast doubt on his return to competition, admitting that a serious knee injury sustained in his December 2024 victory over Ian Garry has left his future in the sport uncertain. The Kazakh fighter had competed despite entering the bout already dealing with the injury, a decision he now regrets. Rakhmonov told Alf Global that he should never have risked fighting in that condition, and suggested that other elite fighters from Dagestan—referencing Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev—would have refused to step into the cage with such an ailment. During the Garry fight, Rakhmonov's injury worsened significantly. He revealed that he had damaged a ligament in his leg, which swelled considerably and became increasingly painful as he absorbed strikes from Garry. Although Rakhmonov won the bout, the physical toll has sidelined him for months, and he has not ruled out the possibility that his UFC career may have ended with that victory. His cautious remarks suggest that a comeback is far from guaranteed, with the injury remaining a major obstacle to his return to the 170-pound division where he had previously been a top contender.