Undefeated UFC title contender returns to training after lengthy absence

Shavkat Rakhmonov has returned to training after an extended absence from competition. The undefeated UFC welterweight, sidelined since defeating Ian Garry by decision at UFC 310 in December 2024, was recently captured on video at his gym moving and engaging in light sparring. Rakhmonov's lengthy layoff was caused by a serious knee injury that prevented him from challenging Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title in the first half of 2025. The injury kept him out of action for the remainder of that year, with complications emerging at the start of 2026 when medical evaluation revealed he required an additional nine to ten months of recovery. The return to training, while still appearing to be in early stages, signals progress in his rehabilitation. Rakhmonov's comeback timeline remains uncertain, but his presence back in the gym suggests movement toward eventual competition. The welterweight title picture will likely continue evolving without him as he works through his recovery.