“Nomad” coming back?
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight almost-title challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov has been out of action since defeating Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 310 — nearly 20 months ago.
If you remember, Rakhmonov was originally supposed to challenge then-champion Belal Muhammad for the Welterweight title in the main event of UFC 310; however, Muhammad was forced out of the fight because of a nasty bone infection.
Garry stepped in, and Rakhmonov
went on to defeat him in a five-round unanimous decision.
Unfortunately, that was the last time fight fans saw “Nomad” inside the Octagon.
Rakhmonov entered the Garry fight with an already compromised knee, which was reportedly aggravated during the bout. Since then, the undefeated contender has dealt with multiple setbacks in his recovery, including another knee surgery earlier this year that was expected to keep him sidelined for most of 2026.
Earlier this year, Rakhmonov returned to training, but he appeared to be moving very lightly — almost as if he was simply seeing what his body would allow him to do.
But now, new footage of him sparring has surfaced, and it is easily the most encouraging sign yet.
In the clip, Rakhmonov can be seen moving much more smoothly, hopping on his repaired knee, stuffing takedowns and even jumping for submissions.
Again, it does not mean he is ready to return tomorrow, but it sure looks like progress.
The undefeated 31-year-old has long been viewed as the boogeyman of the Welterweight division and remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the weight class. Rakhmonov owns seven UFC wins, with six of them coming by finish, and he remains the only man to defeat current title challenger Garry.
Earlier this year, Rakhmonov indicated he could be sidelined another nine-to-10 months, putting a 2026 return in serious doubt. However, the latest sparring footage offers some hope that “Nomad” is finally working his way back.
That said, there is still no confirmed return date.
And the Welterweight division has basically changed entirely since Rakhmonov has been away. By the time he returns, he will almost certainly need to fight again before getting another title shot.
Sean Brady? Michael Morales? Jack Della Maddalena? Gabriel Bonfim?
There are plenty of fresh matchups waiting for “Nomad.”
To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.
