Shavkat Rakhmonov will not compete in 2026 as he continues to recover from injuries. He is expected to be ready to return in 2027 if his recovery goes to plan.
Shavkat Rakhmonov will miss the remainder of 2026 due to injury, with the undefeated welterweight not expected to return to competition until 2027 if his recovery proceeds as planned.
Rakhmonov, known as "Nomad," enters this layoff as one of the most dangerous fighters in the 170-pound division. The 31-year-old Kazakhstani carries a perfect 19-0-0 professional record and is currently ranked third in the welterweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, he is an imposing presence, and his numbers reflect a fighter who finishes opponents rather than coasting to decisions. He lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent, and he also threatens consistently on the ground, averaging 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Rakhmonov trains out of DAR Team and competes from an orthodox stance.
Why it matters
- Rakhmonov's absence removes the third-ranked welterweight from the title picture for at least the rest of this calendar year, creating a gap in the division's contender landscape.
- His undefeated record and elite finishing ability made him one of the most anticipated challengers at 170 pounds, and a prolonged absence could affect his ranking position heading into 2027.
- The welterweight division will now need to sort out its contender rankings without one of its most complete mixed martial artists in the picture.
