Shavkat Rakhmonov is planning his next UFC fight for late 2026 as he continues a prolonged rehabilitation course following knee injuries and surgeries. The undefeated welterweight contender has been sidelined and undergoing extensive medical treatment. If he returns in December as hoped, his layoff will total exactly two years since his last octagon appearance. Fans are expressing hope that this timeline holds and Rakhmonov can return to competition by year's end.
Shavkat "Nomad" Rakhmonov is targeting a return to the UFC octagon in late 2026 as he continues recovering from knee injuries and multiple surgeries that have kept him out of competition for an extended period. Should the timeline hold and the Kazakh contender fights in December as hoped, his absence from the cage will have stretched to exactly two years.
Rakhmonov, 31, remains one of the most compelling figures in the welterweight division despite the prolonged layoff. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the orthodox southpaw carries a flawless 19-0 professional record and currently holds the number-three ranking at 170 pounds. Fighting out of DAR Team, he has built his unbeaten résumé on an exceptional blend of striking and grappling, landing 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that reflect a genuinely well-rounded and dangerous fighter.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's return would immediately re-energize the welterweight title picture, with the third-ranked contender still undefeated and hungry for a title shot.
- A two-year layoff raises conditioning and ring-rust questions that could shape how the UFC positions him upon his comeback.
- His combination of elite striking accuracy and consistent submission threat makes him a stylistic problem for virtually any opponent in the division.
The welterweight landscape will continue to shift during Rakhmonov's absence, but his spotless record and high divisional ranking ensure he returns with significant leverage. Fan anticipation around his comeback reflects just how much the division missed one of its most uncompromising competitors.
