Islam Makhachev fires Back at Shavkat Rakhmonov over UFC title snub

Islam Makhachev has questioned whether Shavkat Rakhmonov deserves an immediate welterweight title shot, citing the undefeated Kazakh's ongoing injury recovery. The UFC welterweight champion, who won his belt against Jack Della Maddalena last year and defended it against Ian Garry in August, has publicly named Carlos Prates and Michael Morales as the top contenders for his next title defense. Rakhmonov expressed disappointment at being overlooked in a recent interview, prompting Makhachev to respond.

Makhachev (29-1) questioned the practicality of waiting 1.5 years for Rakhmonov to fully recover from knee injuries that have sidelined him since his December 2024 victory over Garry. "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?" Makhachev told Match TV. The champion was careful not to rule out a future matchup, clarifying that he would fight Rakhmonov once the challenger recovers and cements his status as a legitimate title contender.

Rakhmonov (19-0) has not competed since defeating Garry, undergoing knee surgery immediately after that fight. A subsequent injury during his recovery necessitated another operation. While Rakhmonov's undefeated record and victory over Garry—whose only prior loss came to Rakhmonov—position him as a logical contender, his extended absence from competition and ongoing rehabilitation cast doubt on a near-term title opportunity. Makhachev's comments suggest the UFC is more inclined to book him against a fighter who can step into the cage sooner rather than wait for Rakhmonov's return.