Shavkat Rakhmonov is aiming to return to the UFC later this year, targeting a fight around December. The undefeated welterweight continues to undergo extensive rehabilitation following a knee injury and surgeries that have kept him out of action. If Rakhmonov fights in December, it will mark a two-year layoff from competition. The lengthy absence has raised concerns among his fans, though he remains focused on completing his recovery before returning to the Octagon.
Shavkat Rakhmonov has set his sights on a return to the Octagon before the end of 2026, with December emerging as a target date as the undefeated welterweight works through the final stages of rehabilitation following knee surgery.
Rakhmonov, known as "Nomad," enters this comeback push with a perfect 19-0-0 record and holds the number-three ranking in the welterweight division. The 31-year-old from Kazakhstan trains out of DAR Team and stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, giving him a significant physical presence at 170 pounds. His numbers inside the cage back up the hype: he lands strikes at a 60 percent accuracy rate with 3.25 significant strikes per minute, while also averaging 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a well-rounded offensive profile that has left opponents with no safe answer.
If Rakhmonov does compete in December, it will represent a two-year absence from competition, an unusually long layoff for a fighter widely regarded as one of the division's premier threats. He has undergone multiple procedures on the knee and remains in an extensive rehab program, though his focus, by all accounts, is on returning healthy rather than rushing back.
Why it matters
- A return puts Rakhmonov immediately back in the welterweight title conversation given his number-three ranking and unblemished record.
- A two-year layoff will raise questions about ring rust and whether his explosive, high-volume style translates cleanly after such an extended absence.
- His combination of striking accuracy, takedown output, and submission threats makes any prospective matchup a significant divisional event.
