Eduard Bazrov, coach of Kazakh UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov (No.2 in the UFC welterweight rankings), gave the required timeline for the fighter to prepare for the next bout in the promotion.
«We need two and a half to three months to get ready for the fight. Shavkat is training, preparing, and working out in the gym. It depends on the date and month that are offered. Training at home in a regular routine is one thing; going through a proper training camp and preparing for a specific opponent is another. One or one and a half months won’t be enough — we need two and a half months,» Bazrov told Betonmobile.
Therefore, Rakhmonov’s return to the Octagon is expected no earlier than April.
He noted that there have been no proposals for the next bout from the UFC management.
«Overall, if you’re ranked second in the welterweight division, it doesn’t matter who you fight — whether it’s Islam Makhachev or Kamaru Usman. They’re all strong. Ian Garry is strong, Carlos Prates is strong and Jack Della Maddalena is strong. Whoever is assigned, we have to fight them and prepare for their style. So far, there have been no offers regarding Shavkat’s opponent or bout.»
The last time Rakhmonov appeared in the Octagon was in December 2024, when he defeated Irish fighter Ian Garry by unanimous decision.
