Shavkat Rakhmonov says he was originally expected to challenge for the UFC welterweight title before former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was given the opportunity instead.
Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has been sidelined since December 2024, when he defeated Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision. The undefeated welterweight contender has remained out of action while recovering from a serious knee injury.
During an interview with ALF Global, Rakhmonov discussed the changes at the top of the UFC welterweight division following Ilia Topuria's move to the lightweight division. According to Rakhmonov, he was initially supposed to face Jack Della Maddalena before Makhachev entered the picture.
“The situation in the division changed. Topuria moved up to 70 kg (155 pounds). They asked Islam to fight (Jack Della) Maddalena, but actually I was supposed to fight Maddalena, but Islam still has a bit more privilege than I do, because he was a 70 kg champion,” Rakhmonov said.
Makhachev ultimately moved up to welterweight after relinquishing his UFC lightweight title and went on to compete for the 170-pound championship. His status as a former lightweight champion, Rakhmonov believes, gave him an advantage when the UFC reshuffled the division.
Rakhmonov also offered his assessment of Topuria's rise through the UFC, suggesting the promotion has given the Spanish star favorable matchups as he pursued championship success in multiple divisions.
“And there's Topuria as well, a UFC star. The Spaniard is a good media fighter. He's kind of... they support him so that it's beneficial for him and it's beneficial for everyone if Topuria is the champion. They gave him convenient opponents, for example, and so on,” Rakhmonov said.
Rakhmonov remains one of the UFC's most highly regarded welterweight contenders. The 30-year-old Kazakh fighter is undefeated in his professional career and owns a 19-0 record, including eight victories inside the UFC.
His lengthy absence, however, has prevented him from capitalizing on his momentum following the win over Garry. With the welterweight division continuing to evolve, Rakhmonov will have to wait for his opportunity to return and reestablish himself in the title picture.
