Kazakh UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov continues his preparation for a return to the octagon after a lengthy injury layoff, reports infohub.kz.
New footage from the athlete's training session was published by his striking coach, Orazali Aldibaev. In the video, Rakhmonov is seen working out in the gym, practicing strikes with his coach.
"Surprise, surprise! The King has returned. 77 kilograms," Aldibaev captioned the post.
Rakhmonov has not fought in the UFC since December 2024. At UFC 310, the Kazakhstani faced Ireland's Ian Garry and won by unanimous decision. That result kept his perfect professional record intact — 19 wins and no losses.
The long pause was due to a serious knee injury. In early 2025, Rakhmonov suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during training, underwent surgery, and began a lengthy rehabilitation.
Because of the recovery, the Kazakhstani was forced to miss the entire past season. Now, Rakhmonov's appearance in the training gym may indicate that he is gradually approaching a full return to the UFC.