Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Injury Risk Revealed in UFC
Shavkat Rakhmonov has opened up about the serious injury risk he took when he fought Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310, admitting that he probably should not have entered the Octagon at all. The undefeated welterweight contender revealed that he was already dealing with significant knee problems before the bout and suggested that fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov or Islam Makhachev would likely have refused to compete under similar circumstances.
The revelation adds another layer to one of the most important fights of Rakhmonov’s career. The Kazakh fighter entered the contest against Machado Garry after an earlier title opportunity against Belal Muhammad had fallen apart. Despite his physical limitations, Rakhmonov stayed on the UFC 310 card and went on to win a competitive decision.
Nearly two years later, however, the consequences of that decision remain visible. Rakhmonov has endured further knee problems and has yet to return to competition.
Shavkat Rakhmonov Injury Changed His UFC Path
The story of Rakhmonov’s injury began before his fight with Machado Garry. Rakhmonov had originally been scheduled to challenge then-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at UFC 310 in December 2024.
Muhammad withdrew because of an injury, forcing the UFC to change the matchup. Instead of fighting for the championship, Rakhmonov was booked against Machado Garry in a five-round No. 1 contender bout.
At the time, Rakhmonov was already dealing with his own physical problems.
According to his latest comments, the injury was severe enough that he believes he should never have accepted the fight. He said he entered the contest with a damaged knee and described his decision to compete as a personal risk.
That decision ultimately produced a major victory. Rakhmonov defeated Machado Garry by unanimous decision and remained undefeated.
But the victory came at a substantial physical cost.
Rakhmonov Admits He Should Not Have Fought Garry
Rakhmonov’s latest comments are striking because he did not attempt to minimize the seriousness of his condition.
Instead, he openly acknowledged that competing against Machado Garry while injured was a mistake.
He explained that he had already been dealing with an injury before the fight and had only a limited amount of time to prepare. His leg was reportedly swollen, and he described the condition of his knee as severely compromised.
Rakhmonov also explained that he had not competed for approximately a year and was determined to return.
That desire to fight ultimately overrode concerns about his physical condition.
The decision is particularly significant in hindsight. Rakhmonov has now spent an extended period away from the UFC, with recurring knee problems preventing him from building on the momentum he created with the win over Machado Garry.
For a fighter once viewed as one of the most dangerous prospects in the welterweight division, the injuries have dramatically changed his career trajectory.
Shavkat Rakhmonov Injury Becomes a Question of Risk
Rakhmonov’s comments also highlight a broader issue in professional MMA: how much physical damage should a fighter accept in pursuit of a major opportunity?
Fighters regularly compete through injuries. In many cases, athletes and their teams believe they can manage an injury long enough to complete a fight. But the danger is that competing while compromised can turn a manageable problem into a long-term setback.
That appears to be what Rakhmonov fears happened to him.
The stakes were especially high because the Machado Garry fight represented an opportunity to remain near the top of the UFC welterweight division.
Rakhmonov was undefeated and widely regarded as one of the division’s most dangerous contenders. A victory would keep him in position for another title opportunity.
Instead, the win was followed by an extended period on the sidelines.
Rakhmonov Takes Aim at Khabib and Islam Makhachev
Perhaps the most provocative part of Rakhmonov’s comments involved two of the most respected names in the sport: Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
Rakhmonov suggested that if either Dagestani fighter had been dealing with the same level of injury, they would have refused to compete.
His comparison was partly cultural and partly about fighter mentality. Rakhmonov characterized his own decision as reflecting what he described as a daring Kazakh mentality.
The comment is unlikely to be interpreted as a serious criticism of Nurmagomedov or Makhachev. Instead, it appeared to underline just how much risk Rakhmonov believes he accepted.
Still, mentioning two fighters with reputations for meticulous preparation and elite-level physical conditioning naturally adds intrigue to the story.
Both Nurmagomedov and Makhachev have built careers around controlling opponents, minimizing mistakes and executing highly disciplined game plans.
Rakhmonov’s point was that competing with a severely compromised knee would not fit that approach.
Why the Ian Machado Garry Fight Mattered
The fight with Machado Garry was particularly important because of what was at stake.
Rakhmonov had originally expected to fight for the UFC welterweight championship. When Muhammad withdrew, the matchup with Machado Garry became a high-profile alternative.
The winner would strengthen his position in the title picture.
Rakhmonov ultimately won the fight, handing Machado Garry one of the most important defeats of his career at that stage. The result also preserved Rakhmonov’s unbeaten record.
However, Rakhmonov now believes his performance could have been much more dominant if he had been healthy.
He praised Machado Garry as a talented and well-rounded fighter but made it clear that his physical condition limited what he could do.
That assessment is important because Rakhmonov’s reputation had been built largely around finishing opponents.
Before the Machado Garry bout, he had developed a remarkable record of stoppage victories. The decision victory was therefore unusual for a fighter who had established himself as a dangerous finisher.
An Unbeaten Record Under Threat From Time
Despite his prolonged absence, Rakhmonov remains unbeaten.
He currently owns a 19-0 professional record and is 7-0 inside the UFC. His UFC résumé includes victories over notable welterweights such as Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal and Neil Magny.
That record makes his situation particularly frustrating.
Few undefeated fighters reach this level of competition without eventually earning a championship opportunity. Rakhmonov appeared to be on exactly that path before injuries interrupted his rise.
His victory over Machado Garry should have positioned him for another major opportunity.
Instead, his knee problems became the defining factor in his career.
Islam Makhachev Has Doubts About Rakhmonov’s Return
Rakhmonov’s future has become even more uncertain because Islam Makhachev has publicly questioned whether the Kazakh fighter will compete again.
Makhachev, who has moved into the welterweight division and captured the UFC title, reportedly expressed doubts about Rakhmonov’s ability to return after his series of injuries.
The situation is notable because Makhachev could potentially be one of the biggest opponents available to Rakhmonov if the latter makes a successful comeback.
That possibility, however, remains distant.
Rakhmonov is currently focused on recovering rather than predicting a specific matchup.
He has previously expressed a desire to return in 2027, but his latest comments show that he is not treating a comeback as guaranteed.
Rakhmonov Still Wants the UFC Title
Despite the uncertainty, Rakhmonov has not abandoned his championship ambitions.
The former title contender said he will do everything possible to return and win the belt. At the same time, he acknowledged that nobody can know exactly what the future holds.
That combination of ambition and realism may be the most important part of his latest update.
Rakhmonov is still only 19-0. From a sporting perspective, his career is far from necessarily finished. But after nearly two years away from competition and multiple knee issues, the road back will be extremely difficult.
The UFC welterweight division has also continued to evolve during his absence.
New contenders have emerged, established fighters have moved divisions and Makhachev has become the champion. That means Rakhmonov may have to rebuild his position rather than simply return to the exact place where he left off.
A Potentially Different UFC Welterweight Division
If Rakhmonov eventually returns in 2027, the division could look very different.
Machado Garry has continued to establish himself as a major contender, while Makhachev has become one of the central figures in the welterweight title picture. Other contenders are also waiting for their opportunities.
That makes Rakhmonov’s comeback particularly intriguing.
An undefeated fighter returning after years away would immediately attract attention. Yet his ranking, title eligibility and matchup options would depend heavily on his physical condition and how quickly he can regain his competitive form.
Most importantly, his knee must hold up.
MMA requires explosive movement, wrestling exchanges, kicking, scrambling and rapid changes in direction. A fighter can have elite technical skills and still struggle if a major joint cannot withstand the demands of competition.
For Rakhmonov, that is likely to be the biggest question surrounding his future.
The Cost of Fighting Through Injury
Rakhmonov’s story is also a reminder that a victory does not always mean an athlete has made the right decision.
He won against Machado Garry.
He remained undefeated.
He strengthened his reputation.
Yet the physical consequences may have prevented him from competing in the biggest fights of his career.
That trade-off is one of the most difficult realities in combat sports.
A fighter may see an opportunity that cannot be missed. The UFC schedule moves quickly, championship opportunities can disappear and replacements can be difficult to find.
But injuries do not follow the same schedule.
Rakhmonov now appears to recognize that reality.
His latest comments suggest that he would approach the situation differently if given another opportunity.
What Comes Next for Shavkat Rakhmonov?
For now, the biggest question is simple: will Rakhmonov fight again?
The answer remains uncertain.
Rakhmonov has indicated that he hopes to return in 2027, but he has stopped short of guaranteeing a comeback. He knows the extent of his injuries makes predictions difficult.
If he does return, however, the stakes will be enormous.
An undefeated record, a history of dominant performances and unfinished business at the top of the UFC welterweight division would give Rakhmonov plenty of motivation.
His fight with Machado Garry may also be viewed differently in the future.
What looked like a competitive victory in December 2024 now appears to have been a fight Rakhmonov entered while carrying a serious physical disadvantage.
That makes his win even more remarkable, but it also raises questions about whether the decision to compete ultimately cost him valuable years of his career.
The Final Word on Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Injury
The latest revelation about the Shavkat Rakhmonov injury provides important context for his long absence from the UFC.
Rakhmonov has acknowledged that he took an enormous risk by fighting Ian Machado Garry while dealing with a serious knee problem. He believes other elite fighters, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, might have made the opposite choice and refused to compete.
Whatever fans think of that comparison, the outcome is clear.
Rakhmonov won the fight, protected his undefeated record and remained one of the UFC’s most intriguing welterweights. But his subsequent injuries have kept him away from the sport and left his championship ambitions uncertain.
At 19-0, his story is far from finished.
Yet the next chapter will depend less on his confidence or ambition and more on whether his body allows him to return.
For now, Rakhmonov is waiting.
And as he himself acknowledged, time will reveal whether the undefeated contender gets another chance to chase the UFC championship.
