Shavkat Rakhmonov on fighting Ian Machado Garry injured: ‘Khabib or Islam Makhachev, they definitely would’ve refused’

Shavkat Rakhmonov remains sidelined after his gutsy December 2024 victory over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310, a fight he competed in despite significant knee injuries including a torn meniscus and ACL damage. The undefeated Kazakh welterweight was originally scheduled to challenge then-champion Belal Muhammad, but when Muhammad withdrew due to injury, Rakhmonov stepped in to face Machado Garry for the No. 1 contender slot—and won a competitive decision despite operating on one leg.

In a rare interview, Rakhmonov acknowledged the risk he took fighting injured, contrasting his willingness to compete with what he believes rival fighters might have done. "If it had been some other Dagestani fighter like Khabib or Islam Makhachev, they definitely would've refused," Rakhmonov told Alf Global, attributing his decision-making to Kazakh cultural pride and fearlessness. He credited Machado Garry as a well-rounded competitor but suggested the margin of victory would have been wider had he been healthy.

Rakhmonov detailed his physical struggles during the fight: "When he was striking me, it was probably because I completely lacked a ligament. I couldn't really feel that strike, in general." He had returned to training after the Garry bout but re-injured the same knee, forcing another full year of inactivity. The 19-0 fighter, riding a 7-0 UFC streak that includes wins over Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal, and Neil Magny, expressed cautious optimism about a 2027 return to chase the title.

Makhachev has publicly doubted whether Rakhmonov will fight again given the cumulative damage to his knee. When asked about his comeback prospects, Rakhmonov remained noncommittal: "Time will tell. It's too early to say anything yet. I'll do my best to come back and win the title. Time will reveal everything."