Shavkat Rakhmonov’s UFC career is over, predicts Joaquin Buckley

We have seen the last of Shavkat Rakhmonov inside the Octagon if Joaquin Buckley’s prediction comes true.

Rakhmonov was a surefire No. 1 contender for the UFC Welterweight Championship by the end of 2024. He never ended up getting that title opportunity as he missed all of 2025 due to injuries. Rakhmonov shared that he recently suffered yet another setback and has undergone surgery, keeping him on the shelf for even longer.

During an edition of the “Overdogs Podcast,” Buckley had a grim outlook on Rakhmonov’s fighting future (h/t MMAJunkie).

“I’m going to make this prediction right now: We never see Shavkat (in the UFC) again,” Buckley said. “The thing about Shavkat, he ain’t no content creator. At least Colby is keeping his name out there. He’s keeping himself relevant. He’s in the RAF. You’ve got to do these things in order for people to recognize your name, but every time we hear about your name, it’s about something negative, which is the bad part.

“It’s going to be to the point where the fans lose interest. They’re going to forget about Shavkat – I promise you. They’re just going to forget about Shvakat, and guess what the next move is going to be for the UFC? They’re going to send his ass back to Kazakhstan.”

Rakhmonov was bounced from the official UFC welterweight rankings due to inactivity. Many MMA fans fear that the undefeated “Nomad” might end up becoming the biggest “what if” story in the history of the sport. Some feel it’s too early to write off Rakhmonov’s chances of overcoming his setbacks to eventually become a UFC champion, but whether or not he can reach the level he could’ve prior to the injuries is another debate.

Do you think we have seen the last of Shavkat Rakhmonov in MMA? Drop your opinion in the comment section below.