Rakhmonov Denies Re-Injury Reports After Second Knee Surgery

Undefeated welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov denied reports circulating in Russian media that he has suffered another setback to his surgically repaired knee.

Rakhmonov, who underwent a second knee procedure in January 2026 after re-injuring the joint during rehabilitation, posted on social media this week that his recovery remains on track. "Getting stronger every single day," he wrote on X, per MMA Mania. A separate Instagram post hinted at a return timeline with the caption "Soon 2027."

Rakhmonov's Road Back From UFC 310

The 30-year-old Kazakh has not competed since December 2024, when he beat Ian Machado Garry by decision at UFC 310 despite existing ACL and meniscus damage. That bout was supposed to be a title fight against Belal Muhammad, but the champion withdrew with a foot infection and Rakhmonov elected to stay on the card. Multiple oblique kicks during the Garry scrap left his knee completely wrecked, according to the outlet.

After a year of rehab, Rakhmonov re-injured the knee and went under the knife again at the start of this year. Initial hopes for a December return were recently ruled out, sparking speculation across Russian outlets that another complication had occurred.

His social media posts this week suggest otherwise. If the unbeaten contender can make it back to the cage intact, he may benefit from ongoing commission discussions about banning oblique kicks — the technique that did much of the damage at UFC 310.

Photo: Oisinvg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Shavkat pushes back on latest injury reports: ‘Getting stronger every day’ | MMA Mania