Kazakh UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov’s father dies

Baktybai Alpamysov, the father of Kazakh UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, has died at the age of 65. According to Vesti.kz, he died on Aug. 2. A source close to the athlete’s team confirmed the information to the outlet.

The news initially emerged after an announcement about the memorial meal was posted on social media. A Quran recitation and memorial meal are scheduled to take place on Aug. 13 in Karaganda.

«In honor of our father, Alpamysov Baktybai Rakhmanuly, a Thursday memorial meal with a Quran recitation will be held,» the message to relatives and friends read.

When will Rakhmonov return to the UFC?

Rakhmonov, 31, has been sidelined by injury for an extended period. The Kazakh fighter remains undefeated, with a perfect record of 19 wins in 19 bouts, including seven in the UFC.

Rakhmonov last stepped into the Octagon in December 2024 at UFC 310. He defeated Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision. It was the first fight of the Kazakh fighter’s professional career to go to the judges’ scorecards.

After that, Rakhmonov’s return was postponed several times due to health issues. In February 2026, following a new injury, he was removed from the UFC welterweight rankings. Before that, the Kazakh fighter was ranked No. 2 and remained one of the leading contenders for a title fight.

Kursiv.media previously reported that Rakhmonov will not fight again until the end of 2026. His coach, Eduard Bazrov, said the athlete is still recovering from a leg injury and is currently training on a limited basis, focusing on physical conditioning and boxing. According to the coach’s preliminary assessment, Rakhmonov could be fully ready to return in February 2027, although the exact timeline will depend on his rehabilitation.

Rakhmonov’s team believes his extended absence will not cost him his place among the title contenders. Bazrov suggested that upon his return, the UFC could immediately offer the Kazakh fighter a top-10 or even top-5 welterweight opponent.