There is some rare good news for Shavkat Rakhmonov fans. The undefeated Kazakh was recently rumored to have suffered another knee setback. However, he has now pushed back against those reports, suggesting that his return might be closer than expected.
For the unversed, several Russian media outlets recently reported that Rakhmonov had aggravated his existing knee injury, potentially delaying his comeback even further. One of the reports claimed, “Knee cannot withstand strain.”
The 19-0 contender was previously expected to face Michael Morales at UFC 336 before the latter was booked for the interim welterweight title fight. Following the injury reports, speculation suggested that Rakhmonov might not return until June 2027. However, the Kazakh’s latest updates paint a much more positive picture.
In a new post on his X account, Rakhmonov wrote, “Another week of hard training done. Getting stronger every single day.” He also shared a separate update on Instagram with an encouraging caption: “Soon 2027.”
🚨 Shavkat Rakhmonov is expecting to return in 2027, per his IG story
He hasn’t fought since December 2024 https://t.co/qBiK8eMt6g
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 8, 2026
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That’s certainly good news considering the difficult couple of years the 19-0 contender has endured. Rakhmonov hasn’t competed since his victory over Ian Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024.
The bout was originally supposed to be against then-champion Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title. However, Muhammad was forced to withdraw due to a bone infection, leaving Garry to step in on short notice.
Despite dealing with existing ACL and meniscus problems, Rakhmonov managed to grind out a decision victory over the Irishman. However, the damage to his knee reportedly worsened during the fight, with Garry repeatedly targeting his injured left leg.
Another week of hard training done. Getting stronger every single day 💪🏼
— Shavkat “Nomad” Rakhmonov (@Rakhmonov1994) November 8, 2026
Rakhmonov initially explored conservative treatment through rest and rehabilitation before eventually undergoing surgery on January 31, 2026. At the time, his recovery was expected to take approximately nine to 10 months.
Since then, several clips have shown the Kazakh gradually working his way back into training. He has been focusing on conditioning and has even participated in sparring sessions. Still, questions remained about how soon he could realistically return to competition.
Back in May 2026, his manager, Daniel Rubenstein, revealed that the early prognosis suggested the former title challenger might not be ready to fight until 2027.
Although the lengthy recovery has been frustrating for fans, Rakhmonov’s latest updates offer some much-needed optimism. If his progress continues at this pace, the undefeated contender could finally be on his way back to the Octagon without another major setback.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
