Shavkat Rakhmonov not expected to return to the Octagon in 2026

Kazakh mixed martial artist Shavkat Rakhmonov will not be able to compete in the UFC until the end of 2026. According to his coach, Eduard Bazrov, Rakhmonov is not expected to be ready to return before February 2027.

Rakhmonov is still recovering from a leg injury and is training once a day. His training is currently limited to physical conditioning and boxing.

«Right now, Shavkat is recovering from his leg injury and training once a day. We’re focusing on physical conditioning and boxing — doing what he can handle for now,» Bazrov told Kazinform.

The head coach of DAR Team also stressed that the exact timeline for Rakhmonov’s return will depend on how his recovery progresses.

«We can’t give an exact timeline for Shavkat’s return yet. Everyone recovers differently after an injury. I think he’ll be able to return next year. In my opinion, he could be fully ready for a fight in February 2027, but for now it’s impossible to say exactly when Shavkat Rakhmonov will recover,» the coach said.

Bazrov believes that, upon his return, Rakhmonov will be matched against one of the division’s top contenders.

«I think he’ll be matched up with a top opponent right away, at least someone from the top 10, if not the top five. Because Shavkat was ranked second,» Bazrov said.

In February 2026, Rakhmonov was removed from the UFC welterweight rankings following reports of another injury. He had previously been ranked second. Rakhmonov last fought in the Octagon in December 2024, defeating Irish fighter Ian Garry by unanimous decision.