Watch: Shavkat Rakhmonov seen training in MMA gym, eyes UFC comeback
Undefeated UFC welterweight star Shavkat Rakhmonov is seemingly on the road to recovery as he eyes a comeback to professional MMA competition.
Shavkat Rakhmonov has long been counted among the most skilled grapplers in the sport of mixed martial arts. The Kazakh fighter has also showcased his excellent striking skills, memorably knocking out Carlston Harris with a spectacular spinning hook kick.
Rakhmonov's most recent fight came against his former training partner and Irish welterweight star, Ian Machado Garry, in December 2024. He was said to have entered the Garry matchup with a knee injury, which hindered his performance.
Nevertheless, he still managed to secure the victory, defeating Garry via unanimous decision in their 170-pound title eliminator that was a marquee matchup on the UFC 310 fight card. Garry is the only opponent whom the 19-0 Rakhmonov hasn't finished in his MMA career.
Unfortunately, Rakhmonov has been out of action due to knee injury issues since that fight and hasn't received his long-awaited title shot. That said, he's been spotted training at an MMA gym, which, in turn, has given his fans a reason to be optimistic about his return materializing sooner rather than later.
Shavkat Rakhmonov returns to MMA gym ahead of imminent UFC comeback
In a recent Instagram post put forth by the Dar Pro Team MMA gym in Shavkat Rakhmonov's native Kazakhstan, the UFC star was seen moving around and throwing strikes. Additionally, he's consistently hinted that he's eyeing and working toward his UFC comeback.
With boxing gloves on, the session seemed to be focused primarily on movement rather than hard sparring, as neither Rakhmonov nor his training partner was looking to throw heavy leather at one another.
Many believe that the footage is a positive sign in his long journey to recovery and eventual return to professional MMA competition.
Watch Rakhmonov's latest training footage in the video below:
Shavkat Rakhmonov was on the cusp of fighting for UFC gold
After his win over Ian Machado Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov was expected to fight then-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad for the title in the first half of 2025. Nevertheless, his knee injury issues kept him on the sidelines. Instead, Jack Della Maddalena ended up facing and dethroning Muhammad in May 2025.
Moreover, former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev moved up in weight and outpointed Della Maddalena in November 2025. Makhachev thereby captured the UFC welterweight title and is still the division's champion.
Speaking of Rakhmonov, who was still a key player in the UFC welterweight championship landscape, he faced another setback earlier this year. Reports emerged that he had reinjured his knee and was removed from the official UFC welterweight rankings. He also underwent knee surgery and extensive rehab for the injury.
The consensus is that his UFC comeback might be delayed till late-2026 or early 2027. Regardless, the 31-year-old fighter's aforementioned training footage indicates that he's putting in the work to expedite his much-awaited comeback to the octagon.
