By MMA Insider Staff
February 20, 2026 – Moscow, Russia
In a candid and surprisingly blunt interview during a recent training session in Dagestan, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev addressed ongoing speculation about a potential superfight against undefeated former contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, shutting down any possibility in emphatic fashion.
Makhachev, who recently unified titles by dominating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to claim the 170-pound belt while holding onto his lightweight legacy, made it clear that religion or shared cultural background has nothing to do with his stance. Both fighters are Muslim and hail from neighboring regions in the post-Soviet space—Makhachev from Dagestan, Russia, and Rakhmonov from Kazakhstan—leading some fans to assume a respectful avoidance of intra-faith matchups.
“That’s not the reason at all,” Makhachev stated firmly. “We respect each other as brothers in faith, but this has nothing to do with religion. I would fight anyone if the circumstances were right. The problem is Shavkat’s health. He’s had too many injuries now—bad streak, surgeries, the knee again and again. I don’t think he’ll ever be healthy enough to fight at the highest level again, let alone step in the Octagon with me.
“Rakhmonov, once considered one of the most dangerous prospects in MMA with an 19-0 record and a string of brutal finishes, has been plagued by knee issues since late 2024. He fought through a torn MCL and meniscus in his last appearance, then missed all of 2025 recovering. In early 2026, reports emerged of a re-injury to the same knee, requiring another surgery and sidelining him for at least nine to ten months—potentially pushing any return to late 2026 or even 2027.
Makhachev, echoing comments he made in late 2025 about Rakhmonov’s inactivity, doubled down on his skepticism. “The body never comes back 100% after these kinds of repeated injuries and operations,” he said. “I’ve seen it with other fighters. Shavkat is a tough guy, a real warrior, but at this point, it’s not realistic. I wish him the best recovery, but I won’t wait around or plan for something that might never happen. My focus is on active challengers who are ready now.
“The Dagestani champion wished Rakhmonov well in separate remarks captured on social media, expressing hope for a strong comeback, but his latest comments represent a stark shift toward pessimism about the Kazakh star’s future viability at elite levels.
Fans have long hyped a potential Makhachev vs. Rakhmonov clash as a grappling-heavy dream matchup, with Rakhmonov once publicly calling himself “the real challenge” for Makhachev at 170 pounds. However, with Rakhmonov dropping out of title contention rankings and facing an uncertain timeline, the conversation has shifted dramatically.
For now, Makhachev appears set to defend his welterweight crown against more immediate threats in the division, while Rakhmonov’s path back to contention remains clouded by recovery concerns.Neither fighter’s camp has announced further details on potential matchups, but Makhachev’s words have effectively closed the door on one of MMA’s most talked-about “what if” scenarios—for the foreseeable future, at least.
