The last time Shavkat Rakhmonov stepped foot inside the Octagon, Belal Muhammad was welterweight champion and UFC was still streaming on ESPN+, which should give you some idea of how long “Nomad” has been out of action. These days, Islam Makhachev is king of the 170-pound weight class and UFC fights stream on Paramount+ and CBS.
As for the 31-year-old Rakhmonov, undefeated at 19-0, he’s been rehabbing a serious knee injury since late 2024, which may have come in his unanimous decision victory over fellow welterweight contender Ian Garry at UFC 310 in Las Vegas. “Nomad” suffered a setback during his initial recovery, but appears to be working his way toward a UFC comeback in this latest video.
“It’s not easy to accept but I truly believe every setback is part of a bigger plan,” Rakhmonov wrote on social media. “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 timeline for Rakhmonov’s UFC return has yet to be determined but early 2027 seems likely.
Pretty crazy, I hope he can return to form and win the belt.
He fought Ian MACHADO Garry and beat him while injured. People were shitting on Shavkat for it being a boring fight. But MACHADO Garry is a master of playing it safe to win on points. Similar to Strickland and Wonderboy. Boring fighters that make others look bad.
Garry is now the number 1 contender, who also made Prates look like a scrub.
So if Shavkat comes back and gets a couple wins I think he deserves a title shot. But he definitely needs a tuneup fight. Something the UFC really doesn’t do unfortunately.
The Mongol warrior is back.