The long-awaited UFC return of Shavkat Rakhmonov may not be too far away.
Rakhmonov enjoyed a quick and dominant rise toward the top of the welterweight division, experiencing little to no adversity until his most recent fight.
Following an injury to Belal Muhammad, ‘Nomad’ risked his title shot by facing a fellow undefeated contender on short notice. While the win did not come easy, Rakhmonov did beat Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 last December.
While that looked to keep the Kazakh star as the number one contender, injuries have unfortunately kept him out and prevented him from banking in on his opportunity.
Rakhmonov is now expected to require another win before competing for the gold, which will next be on the line when Islam Makhachev challenges Jack Della Maddalena in November.
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Shavkat Rakhmonov’s teammate provides big UFC return update
The most recent update regarding Rakhmonov’s UFC return saw the 19-0 star under fire from fans for claiming he was only interested in a title fight for his comeback. A few months later, that stance looks to have changed.
Speaking in an interview for Namys Fighting, a teammate of the Kazakh fighter’s discussed the timeline for his next walk to the Octagon.
Fanil Rafikov said his fellow countryman has requested a matchup for early 2026 and name-dropped four potential opponents whom ‘Nomad’ could have his sights on.
“Shavkat requested a fight from UFC for early next year and is waiting for an opponent,” Rafikov said (translated by Telecom Asia Sport).
“His return could bring changes to the division – possibly a new champion or shifts in the top rankings. A fight between Leon Edwards and Carlos Prates is scheduled for November, Sean Brady is looking for an opponent, and we might see a bout with Belal Muhammad,” he added.
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Ian Machado Garry wants to secure his own UFC title shot
When he does return, Rakhmonov may need to contend with his most recent opponent when it comes to securing a first championship opportunity.
While ‘Nomad’ has been out of action since getting the better of Garry, the Irishman returned in style with a main event victory this past April. Garry defeated Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City to reignite his title hopes.
‘The future’ now has his eyes on the next title fight in the division between Della Maddalena and Makhachev. The 27-year-old wants a fight against the winner in 2026, and Garry knows which opponents can get him there.
“The two people I want to fight right now are Sean Brady and Belal Muhammad,” Garry told MMA Knockout on Sports Illustrated.
“They’re number one and number two in the world. And a win over either of those (guys), as I believe, cements me as the number one contender and next for that belt. And that’s what I want.”