Kamaru Usman believes Shavkat Rakhmonov must make significant changes to achieve his goal of becoming a UFC champion.
It was revealed last week that Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has suffered another serious injury to the same knee he previously injured, which has kept him out of action since his win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024.
Rakhmonov, who has since undergone another surgery on that knee, was removed this week from the UFC’s official welterweight rankings, where he had been ranked No. 2.
“I feel bad for him because all you want to do is be healthy and you want to compete and you want to provide for your family,” Usman said this week on podcast Pound4Pound, “but unfortunately, that's not the case. He continues to sustain these injuries so, one: I would say, if this is really what you still want to do, let's find a new camp and let's take care of our body, let's take care of our body until you're done with the sport and then you can move home and lead your life the way that you want to lead your life.
“But if you still have aspirations of being a champion and doing all these phenomenal things, then we have to potentially look for a change, because I believe this is the second time now undergoing surgery, or the second or third time with the same injury. So, man, I feel bad, I feel sorry for him, but it's a tough way.”
Former welterweight titleholder Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) knows a thing or two about dealing with injuries. “The Nigerian Nightmare” has suffered from chronic knee issues for the majority of his own career, and hopes to see “Nomad” overcome his current struggles and make a return to the top of the sport.
“I've been there,” Usman sighed. “I think, (he needs to) try to get healthy and get back, you know? Like I said, we hope big things for him. We hope he gets back to competing.”
