Shavkat Rakhmonov, the undefeated UFC contender, is rehabbing a knee injury.
What happened?
Rakhmonov was forced to decline a UFC welterweight title shot nearly a year ago due to the injury.
Why it matters for Shavkat Rakhmonov
He carried the knee injury into his bout with Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024.
Rakhmonov earned a unanimous decision victory over Machado Garry, but the injury worsened over five rounds.
What comes next?
The Kazakhstani fighter experienced a setback in January that required another knee surgery.
Rakhmonov's team told MMA Junkie the fighter was hopeful for a return in late 2026.
And his recent Instagram Story showed footage of him going through the rehabilitation process.
But it's unknown if the timeline is still in play, and whom he could face in his comeback fight.
So Rakhmonov, 31, will have to wait and see when he can return to the Octagon.
The UFC welterweight title queue will have to wait for his return, as he is still a top contender.
Rakhmonov's record stands at 19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC, with his last win coming against Machado Garry.
He will look to add to his undefeated record when he returns to the UFC, with a potential title shot on the line.