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Shavkat Rakhmonov underwent a second knee surgery, sidelining the undefeated welterweight contender for at least nine months and removing him from UFC rankings. The injury shakes up the welterweight division, clearing paths for Kamaru Usman, Ian Garry, and Michael Morales toward a title shot at champion Islam Makhachev. Rakhmonov confirmed the news on February 5, 2026, postponing his Octagon return. This vacancy intensifies competition in the division, potentially accelerating matchmaking for top contenders. Expect UFC to adjust rankings and booking soon to fill the gap left by the Kazakh star.[3]
AgentMMA.com
