Islam Makhachev Sends Message to Shavkat Rakhmonov After Injury Forces ‘Nomad’ Out of UFC Rankings
Islam Makhachev has sent a message to Shavkat Rakhmonov after the latter was removed from the official UFC rankings.
The undefeated Kazakh fighter who took away Ian Machado Garry’s undefeated record in 2024 was the No. 2-ranked welterweight in 2026, despite not competing for more than a year.
After the UFC 310 win over Garry, “Nomad” remained on the sidelines due to a partial ACL tear and a meniscus injury.
In 2026, he was expected to return. However, last month, media outlets reported that he had re-injured the same knee and had to go under the knife. Hence, his return to the octagon is postponed further. After this news surfaced, Shavkat Rakhmonov was removed from the official UFC rankings.
Islam Makhachev on Shavkat Rakhmonov’s injury: “The body never recovers 100%”
Islam Makhachev recently shared his thoughts on Shavkat Rakhmonov’s injury and wished the undefeated UFC welterweight star a speedy recovery. He told Ushatayka:
“Well, Shavkat is currently going through a bad streak of injuries. I think this is the worst thing that can happen to an athlete, especially after injuries and surgery. The body never recovers 100%, but it’s in that phase right now. Still, I believe he has time to recover, heal properly, and come back strong.”
Check out Islam Makhachev’s comments below:
In 2024, Shavkat Rakhmonov was scheduled to fight Makhachev’s friend and training partner, then-welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, at UFC 310. However, Muhammad had to withdraw due to a bone infection, after which Garry stepped in on short notice and was defeated by “Nomad.”
After that bout, Rakhmonov remained sidelined due to the aforementioned injury. Meanwhile, Muhammad lost his title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, after which Islam Makhachev vacated his lightweight championship and moved up.
Makhachev made his welterweight debut against “JDM” at UFC 322, where the Dagestani phenom cut short Maddalena’s reign with a dominant wrestling display, cruising to a unanimous decision victory.
The 34-year-old P4P king is now expected to make the first defense of his welterweight title post-Ramadan, and rumors strongly suggest that he will fight Ian Machado Garry next, who is now the No. 2-ranked 170-pounder.
