Sean Brady: Shavkat Rakhmonov may never return to the octagon

Shavkat Rakhmonov (31, Kazakhstan), the undefeated UFC welterweight contender with a 19-0 record, recently returned to the gym after a lengthy injury absence, raising fans' hopes for his octagon comeback.

But experts warn that hitting mitts is a far cry from completing a full fight camp. UFC welterweight No. 5 Sean Brady, himself sidelined since suffering a serious knee injury in late 2024, believes Rakhmonov may never fight again.

In a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Brady said he was aware that Rakhmonov had been training — hitting mitts and the like — and that talk of a return had been circulating. "But I don't think he'll be able to fight again," Brady said. "Every time he tries to come back, he keeps having problems with his knee. I think it's over for him."

This is not a rival's trash talk aimed at a fighter who had been on the verge of a title shot before his injury. Lower-body injuries — particularly to the knee and ankle — shorten careers. Fighters who do return often face recurring injuries or serious long-term complications.

Brady also said Rakhmonov would not be able to get through a full fight camp. "Fighters with knee problems keep running into the same issues over and over," he said.

Conor McGregor (37, Ireland) is a prime example. In 2021, he suffered a broken leg in his fight against Dustin Poirier and lost. In his comeback bout this past July, he tore the ligaments and cartilage in his other knee — the right one — and was forced into another roughly year-long rehabilitation.

Mental hurdles compound the physical ones. Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who has experienced a leg fracture himself, expressed concern ahead of McGregor's comeback that injury trauma would make it hard for McGregor to return to his former self.

Rakhmonov underwent surgery to treat his knee injury and suffered a setback during recovery. The run of misfortune has led fans to call him the unluckiest fighter on the UFC roster.

Meanwhile, Brady is set to face welterweight contender Gabriel Bonfim in the main event of a card scheduled for November. Local media expect the winner to earn the next title shot.