Shavkat Rakhmonov targets late 2026 return after two-year injury layoff

Kazakh welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov is aiming to return to the UFC octagon later this year, likely around December. He continues undergoing lengthy rehabilitation following a serious knee injury that required multiple surgeries. If he fights in December as planned, it will mark exactly two years since his last appearance in the cage. The extended recovery period reflects the severity of his knee damage and the cautious approach to his return.