Sports
Rakhmonov Says Octagon Comeback Uncertain After Injury Worsened in Garry Bout
Unbeaten welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov says it remains unclear when, or if, he will return to the UFC after a pre-existing knee injury worsened during his December 2024 victory over Ian Garry. Speaking to Alf Global, Rakhmonov admitted he entered the fight already compromised and likely should not have competed at all. He suggested that fighters from Dagestan, such as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, would have withdrawn from the bout under the same circumstances. "If it had been some other Dagestani fighter like Khabib or Islam Makhachev, they definitely would've refused," he said, according to Sherdog. Rakhmonov explained that the injury existed prior to the fight and deteriorated further once he began absorbing strikes. "I completely lacked a ligament," he said. "I couldn't really feel that strike, in general." He attributed his choice to fight through the pain to what he called the Kazakh mentality of daring not to back down, while acknowledging the toll it has taken on his career. Rakhmonov said that had he been fully healthy, he believes he would already be competing for a title. The 30-year-old has now been sidelined for more than 20 months and has not confirmed whether he intends to return to competition or whether the UFC has offered him a new fight date.