Shavkat Rakhmonov Back Sparring After Knee Surgery, Return Still Unconfirmed

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

Yahoo Sports reports that Shavkat Rakhmonov is back sparring after knee surgery, raising the possibility of movement toward a UFC return. The report notes that Rakhmonov has been out since defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 310, nearly 20 months ago. It also notes he had previously been scheduled to challenge then-champion Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title.

Why it matters:

Rakhmonov’s absence has been significant because he was positioned close to the top of the welterweight title picture before the layoff. Returning to sparring is not the same as being cleared for a fight, but it is one of the more concrete public steps between rehab and competition. For a fighter whose value is tied to contender status, the difference between training, sparring, and signing a bout agreement matters.

Title-picture impact:

The confirmed facts point to a fighter who had already reached near-title territory before injury interrupted the timeline. If Rakhmonov can return at a comparable level, he would likely re-enter conversations around high-stakes welterweight matchmaking. But the source does not confirm an opponent, date, contract, medical clearance, or whether the UFC plans to place him directly back into title contention. Those gaps are important.

Competitive angle:

A long layoff after knee surgery creates two separate questions. The first is physical: whether Rakhmonov can move, defend, wrestle, and strike with the same timing once rounds become live under fight pressure. The second is divisional: whether the welterweight landscape has shifted enough during his absence that he needs another contender fight before any title opportunity. Sparring suggests progress on the first question, but it does not settle either one.

What to watch:

The next meaningful signals are official: a UFC announcement, a named opponent, medical or camp confirmation, and whether Rakhmonov’s team speaks about timing. Training clips can show activity, but they rarely prove readiness for five-round pace, weight cut stress, or elite opposition. If a booking appears, the opponent level will reveal how aggressively the promotion views his return.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the Yahoo Sports source: Rakhmonov is reported to be back sparring after knee surgery, has been out since the Ian Machado Garry win at UFC 310, and had previously been lined up for a welterweight title challenge against then-champion Belal Muhammad. Not confirmed here: a comeback date, current title-shot status, opponent, full medical clearance, or UFC matchmaking plan.