Shavkat Rakhmonov plans to fight again in the UFC towards the end of this year as he continues his lengthy rehabilitation from knee injuries and surgeries. The undefeated welterweight contender has been undergoing an extended recovery process following multiple operations on his knee. If Rakhmonov returns in December as planned, he will have been out of action for exactly two years. The prolonged absence represents a significant setback for the Kazakh fighter who was on a path toward title contention before the injury.
Shavkat "Nomad" Rakhmonov has set his sights on a UFC return toward the end of 2026 as he works through an extended rehabilitation following multiple knee surgeries. If the Kazakh welterweight makes it back to competition in December as planned, he will have been sidelined for exactly two years.
Rakhmonov, 31, enters that potential comeback as one of the most compelling figures in the welterweight division. The DAR Team product carries a perfect 19-0-0 professional record and holds the number three ranking at 170 pounds. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the orthodox fighter from Kazakhstan brings rare physical tools to go along with his technical output. He lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, and adds consistent wrestling and submission threats, averaging 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's return would immediately re-energize the welterweight title picture, given his top-three ranking and unbeaten record.
- A two-year absence means he re-enters with significant uncertainty around his conditioning and whether the knee holds at full competition intensity.
- His combination of striking volume, takedown threat, and submission activity makes him a stylistically dangerous opponent for anyone in the division.
The extended layoff represents a notable interruption to what had been a rapid rise through the welterweight ranks. Rakhmonov was widely viewed as a future title challenger before the knee problems emerged, and his return late in 2026 would mark one of the more anticipated comebacks in the division.
