Shavkat Rakhmonov Back Sparring After Knee Surgery

Undefeated UFC welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov has returned to full sparring nearly 20 months after his last octagon appearance, MMA Mania reports.

Rakhmonov, who beat Ian Machado Garry by decision at UFC 310 in December 2024, fought that bout with a compromised knee that reportedly worsened during the contest. The 31-year-old Kazakh underwent another knee surgery earlier this year and was told to expect a layoff through most of 2026.

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Rakhmonov Shows Progress In Training Footage

New footage shows Rakhmonov moving smoothly on the repaired knee, hopping between stances, stuffing takedown attempts, and jumping for submissions. The clip marks his most advanced work since light training sessions earlier this year, when he appeared restricted to minimal movement.

Rakhmonov was originally scheduled to challenge Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title at UFC 310 before Muhammad pulled out with a bone infection. Garry stepped in, and Rakhmonov extended his unbeaten record to 19-0 with a unanimous decision over five rounds. Six of his seven UFC victories have come by finish, including a rear-naked choke of Stephen Thompson at UFC 296 that he secured with four seconds left in the third round.

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The welterweight division has shifted considerably during his absence. Muhammad has since lost the belt, and Garry remains the only opponent on Rakhmonov's resume ranked inside the current top five. Potential comeback fights include Sean Brady, Michael Morales, Jack Della Maddalena, and Gabriel Bonfim, though no return date has been announced.

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• MMA Mania — Return? Injury-plagued Shavkat Rakhmonov finally back sparring after knee surgery | Video