Drama! Undefeated fighter removed from UFC rankings.

Dana White at a UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC

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Shavkat Rakhmonov continues to live a real drama outside the octagon. Even undefeated in professional MMA, the Kazakh has been suffering from injuries and the most recent one was serious. The UFC welterweight (up to 77 kg) underwent another knee surgery and should be out for about nine months. Given the long period of inactivity, the feared 'Nomad' ended up being removed from the official category ranking this Tuesday (3).

The decision came just days after the athlete himself spoke about his future in the UFC. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Rakhmonov revealed that he will need to postpone his return to the octagon due to persistent injuries . The fighter explained that he needed to undergo another surgical procedure and acknowledged that the moment is difficult, but assured that he remains confident in an even stronger return, keeping alive the dream of winning the organization's belt.

"Today, I need to be honest: due to persistent injuries, I underwent another surgery and will need time to fully recover. As a result, my return to the octagon will be delayed."

"Thank you to everyone who remains by my side, regardless of anything. This is not the end of the journey, it's just an important chapter of it," the Kazakh wrote.

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Shavkat Rakhmonov's current moment

Shavkat Rakhmonov in victory at UFC 310 (Photo: Instagram)

Shavkat Rakhmonov 's last fight was in December 2024, when he defeated Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 in Las Vegas (USA). At that time, the Kazakh fighter maintained his undefeated record and established himself as one of the most feared names in the division. However, a series of physical problems ultimately hampered his plans for a title shot.

Even though he's currently unranked, Rakhmonov's record is impressive. Undefeated in MMA, the fighter has 19 wins in 19 fights. In the UFC since October 2020, he debuted with a dominant victory over Alex Oliveira, finishing his opponent in the first round at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi. Now, while recovering, 'Nomad' is trying to win the toughest battle of his career: the one against his own body.

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