Overview
- Rakhmonov confirmed on X that he had another knee operation and said his comeback is postponed.
- Danny Rubenstein told Ariel Helwani the welterweight contender is expected to be sidelined for most of 2026.
- Video from Jan. 31 showed Rakhmonov on crutches with a knee brace at a Naiza FC event in Kazakhstan.
- He has not fought since defeating Ian Machado Garry in December 2024, with reports tying the setback to the same previously injured knee.
- The delay reshapes welterweight plans as champion Islam Makhachev considers his first defense, with outlets pointing to Kamaru Usman, Ian Garry, and Michael Morales as potential contenders in Rakhmonov’s absence.