Coach speaks on Shavkat Rakhmonov’s UFC return after family car accident

Eduard Bazrov, coach of prominent Kazakhstani UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, discussed whether the fighter will return to the Octagon before the end of the year. The Russian specialist described Rakhmonov’s situation as «very difficult.»

«About the situation with Shavkat, I can’t say anything for sure. The only thing is, Shavkat is training and working out. Of course, the situation is very difficult. And it’s also hard to get yourself mentally prepared for work,» Bazrov told Legalbet.kz.

After the tragic car accident in the Zhambyl region involving Rakhmonov’s family, the fighter has not appeared in public. It was reported that the athlete’s wife, Gulayim Rakhmonova, is a witness in the accident case that claimed the lives of two of her friends.

Bazrov said that he did not want to get ahead of events or speak with certainty about Rakhmonov’s plans. The fighter himself had set a return to the Octagon for the end of the year, but he made that statement in an interview given before the accident. Mixed martial arts fans can only wait for Rakhmonov’s own announcement about his next fight.

«He’s training. But what happens next, only the Creator knows,» Bazrov said.

If Rakhmonov does end up fighting before the end of the year, his opponent could be American Sean Brady, the No. 2-ranked fighter in the welterweight division. Brady has already expressed his readiness to share the Octagon with Rakhmonov in a title contender bout.

The 30-year-old Rakhmonov is one of the top contenders for the UFC welterweight title (up to 77 kilograms). He has 19 victories out of 19 MMA fights under his belt, including seven in the UFC, six of which ended before the final bell. He is currently ranked third in the division. The last time Rakhmonov appeared in the Octagon was on Oct. 7, 2024, when he defeated Irish fighter Ian Garry by unanimous decision.