Undefeated Welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov Returns to Pad Work Following Second Knee Surgery

Shavkat "The Nomad" Rakhmonov is officially back in the gym. The undefeated UFC welterweight standout, who has been sidelined for over 18 months due to a devastating and recurring knee injury, recently posted footage of himself hitting pads. This marks a major milestone in his recovery and signals that the 31-year-old Kazakh fighter is finally nearing a return to the Octagon. For a fighter who was once on the precipice of a world title, the sight of him throwing combinations is a welcome relief to the mixed martial arts community.[2]

Rakhmonov underwent his second knee surgery in January 2026 after re-injuring the joint during a grueling rehabilitation process. At the time, his manager Daniel Rubenstein projected a nine-to-ten-month recovery window, which cast serious doubt on whether Rakhmonov would compete at all this calendar year. The severity of the setback was compounded by the fact that it occurred on the exact same leg that had kept him out of action for the entirety of 2025.[1][3]

The injury saga traces back to late 2024. Rakhmonov was originally scheduled to challenge then-champion Belal Muhammad for the undisputed welterweight title at UFC 310 in December. However, Muhammad was forced to withdraw from the marquee matchup due to a severe bone infection in his foot, prompting the UFC to pivot and find a replacement.[2]

Instead of waiting on the sidelines for a guaranteed title shot, Rakhmonov accepted a high-stakes bout against fellow undefeated prospect Ian Machado Garry. Rakhmonov reportedly carried a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) into that fight but still managed to secure a unanimous decision victory. The grueling five-round affair marked the first time in his 19-fight professional career that he was forced to go the distance, having finished his first 18 opponents.

The physical toll of the Garry fight proved severe. Rakhmonov spent all of 2025 attempting to rehabilitate the knee conservatively without invasive procedures, only to suffer the major setback in early 2026 that ultimately required the surgeon's knife. In a statement released shortly after the operation, Rakhmonov remained optimistic, writing that every dream comes at a price, and sometimes that price is a fighter's health.[3]

The extended absence had administrative consequences. The UFC officially removed Rakhmonov from the welterweight rankings in February 2026 due to his prolonged inactivity. Prior to his removal, he was entrenched at No. 2 in the division and was widely considered the uncrowned boogeyman of the 170-pound weight class.

Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman publicly weighed in on Rakhmonov's struggles earlier this year, urging the young star to consider changing his training environment to prioritize his long-term health. Usman, who has famously battled chronic knee issues throughout his own championship reign, emphasized that Rakhmonov needed to let his body heal fully and adapt his preparation before rushing back to the Octagon.

Now, the recent pad-work footage suggests that Rakhmonov is turning a critical corner in his physical therapy. While he is reportedly still wearing a brace and avoiding heavy grappling or wrestling exchanges, his return to striking drills aligns perfectly with the initial timeline for a late-2026 comeback.[2]

The welterweight landscape has shifted dramatically during his hiatus. Belal Muhammad eventually lost the title to Jack Della Maddalena, who subsequently lost the strap to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in a massive cross-division superfight. Makhachev is now slated to defend the 170-pound belt against Ian Garry in August at UFC 330.[2]

If Rakhmonov's knee continues to hold up under the increasing strain of fight camp preparation, he could be positioned for a high-stakes title eliminator in the fourth quarter of 2026. A successful return would immediately reinsert the 19-0 phenom into the championship picture, putting him right back on the path to becoming Kazakhstan's first-ever UFC titleholder.[2]