Shavkat Rakhmonov

Shavkat Bakhtibayuly Rakhmonov (Шавкат Бақтыбайұлы Рахмонов, ; born October 23, 1994) is a Kazakhstani professional mixed martial artist.

He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Rakhmonov is also a former M-1 Global Welterweight Champion.

As of December 19, 2023, he is #3 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

Rakhmonov was born on October 23, 1994, in the town of Shurchi, Uzbekistan, into a Kazakh family.

His father is a Kazakh of the Altynbay clan and his mother is a Kazakh of the Konyrat tribe.

Rakhmonov is from the Altynbai clan of Alimuly tribe of the Junior Zhuz.

At the age of 16, Rakhmonov and his family relocated to Karagandy, Kazakhstan where their relatives lived.

The family was struggling financially, so Rakhmonov started working as a truck and warehouse loader to help his family.

At the same time, he started attending local sports clubs and began training in combat sambo.

At age 19, Rakhmonov relocated to Kokshetau after being admitted to Kokshetau State University and began studying in physical education.

Rakhmonov's younger sister, Sora Rakhmonova, is also a mixed martial artist.

As an amateur, Rakhmonov won the WMMAA World and Asian Championships titles.

As an 18-year-old, Rakhmonov became a world champion in amateur MMA for WMMAA (World MMA Association) in 2013.

Rakhmonov's professional career began in October 2014, debuting with a first round triangle choke victory against Adam Tsurov at M-1 Challenge 52.

He would continue fighting mainly under the M-1 banner, with seven of his professional fights taking place with promotion, with the remaining five wins coming in his home country's own MMA organization, Kazakhstan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (KZMMAF).

He would alternate back-and-forth between the two organizations, earning his first shot at title as a pro against Faridun Odilov for the KZMMAF welterweight belt.

He won the title by third-round TKO.

In 2014, he became WMMAA's Asian MMA champion.

In the same year, he came as a runner-up in WMMAA's World Championship (2014) to Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov.

And finally in 2015, Rakhmonov again finished as a runner-up in WMMA World Championship, to Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov.

So, Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov is the only person to defeat Rakhmonov in MMA fights, on two separate occasions.

Rakhmonov defended his belt in his next fight at Battle of Nomads 11 against Rinat Sayakbaev in December 2018, returning to M-1 at the start of the new year, facing Daniil Prikaza at M-1 Challenge 101 for the vacant M-1 Welterweight Championship.

With a second-round TKO stoppage, the Kazakhstani secured his second belt.

During this period, Rakhmonov received the nickname “Nomad”.

In his last appearance on the regional scene, Rakhmonov defended his M-1 welterweight title with a first-round stoppage of Tiago Varejão at M-1 Challenge 102.

Rakhmonov was the first Kazakh fighter to sign a contract with the UFC.

Rakhmonov was scheduled to face Bartosz Fabiński on March 21, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event was cancelled.

Rakhmonov was expected to face Ramazan Emeev on July 26, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till.

However, in early July, it was reported that Rakhmonov was forced to pull out due to injury and was replaced by Niklas Stolze.

Rakhmonov was scheduled to fight Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on October 24, 2020, at UFC 254.

However, Zaleski pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Alex Oliveira.

At the weigh-ins, Oliveira weighed in at 173 pounds, two pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit.

As a result, the bout proceeded as a catchweight and he was fined 20% of his purse, which went to Rakhmonov.

Rakhmonov won the fight via guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Rakhmonov faced Michel Prazeres at UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov on June 26, 2021.

He won the bout via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Rakhmonov faced Carlston Harris on February 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland.

He won the fight via knockout in round one.