Former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has some direct advice for Shavkat Rakhmonov.
At the end of 2024, it became clear that Rakhmonov would be set for a title opportunity in the 170-pound division. He was the first choice to face Belal Muhammad, who was the UFC welterweight titleholder at the time. Injuries derailed “Nomad’s” chances of competing for the gold.
Having missed all of 2025, the news hasn’t gotten better for Rakhmonov early in the new year. The once thriving No. 1 contender announced that he has undergone another surgery and “Nomad” will be missing even more time for the foreseeable future. If that wasn’t enough, Rakhmonov has been removed from the UFC welterweight rankings due to inactivity.
During a recent edition of the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, Usman empathized with Rakhmonov over his situation. He also gave the undefeated welterweight some straightforward advice in an effort to save his career.
“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, but unfortunately, that’s not the case,” Usman said. “He continues to sustain these injuries. So, one, I would say potentially, if this is really still what you want to do, let’s find a new camp, and let’s take care of our body until you’re done with the sport. Then, you could move on and lead your life the way that you want to lead your life.”
Rakhmonov has made it clear that he plans to bounce back and eventually win the UFC Welterweight Championship. While many believe Rakhmonov still has a chance to do that, others question if he can avoid further setbacks.
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