Rakhmonov Drops Knee Brace, Signals UFC Welterweight Return
The undefeated Kazakh has shed his protective boot, signaling a physical rebound from a nine-month injury layoff.
Key points
- Shavkat Rakhmonov has resumed wrestling drills, dropping the protective knee brace he wore during a September interview.
- The undefeated fighter has been sidelined since December 2024 due to multiple leg injuries, ending a nine-month layoff.
- Islam Makhachev previously dismissed a fight with Rakhmonov, suggesting the Kazakh should wait for a full recovery before being considered.
Leather creaks under the weight of a fresh throw. In a gym thick with the scent of sweat and old rubber, Shavkat Rakhmonov moves with a quiet, deliberate fluidity. There is no clatter of plastic, no heavy thud of a stabilizing brace hitting the mat. Just the raw, unadorned friction of skin and cloth as the undefeated welterweight tests his range against his coach.
The footage, shared on Instagram and picked up by boxingnews.com, captures a moment of significant relief. For nine months, Rakhmonov’s career has been suspended by a series of leg injuries that forced him out of the Octagon since December 2024. Now, the protective boot he wore during a high-profile interview in September is gone. He is wrestling again, light and free, marking the first tangible step back toward the cage.
The Heavy Brace Era Ends
The contrast between the recent past and this present moment is stark. In early September, Rakhmonov stood before the cameras of AFL Global, his knee encased in a massive, rigid orthopedic device. Even then, his voice carried a sharp edge. He called out Islam Makhachev, asserting that his style meshes perfectly with the current champion’s pressure.
Makhachev’s response was cool, calculated, and dismissive of any immediate timeline. During a media scrum, the champion acknowledged the call-out but refused to commit. He suggested that waiting a year and a half for a fighter to heal was a poor investment. The message was clear: let Rakhmonov recover, let the dust settle, and perhaps then he will be a contender worth chasing.
Frustration Fuels The Recovery
Rakhmonov did not accept that dismissal. He expressed visible frustration when Makhachev failed to name him among the top threats at 170 pounds. That silence likely fueled the grueling months of rehab that followed. The 19-0 fighter knows that a title shot requires not just desire, but undeniable physical readiness.
While no official date has been set for his return, the shift in his training regimen is a loud signal. The injury that stalled his momentum is no longer the defining feature of his body. He is moving, throwing, and wrestling without mechanical aids. The path back to the title picture is opening, one clean, unencumbered motion at a time.
A Path Back To The Octagon
The wrestling drills serve as a diagnostic tool. They reveal whether the ligaments and muscles that suffered in late 2024 can handle the stress of elite competition. Rakhmonov’s movement in these clips suggests a return to form, stripping away the uncertainty that has clouded his schedule.
As the welterweight division continues to churn, Rakhmonov’s status is evolving from injured absentee to imminent challenger. The boot is off. The chain is swinging. The fight is no longer hypothetical; it is a physical reality being rebuilt in the gym, ready for the lights.
