Rakhmonov Says Fight With Makhachev at 170 Would Test Both Men
Updated
Updated · BJPENN.COM · Sep 6
Rakhmonov Says Fight With Makhachev at 170 Would Test Both Men
3 articles · Updated · BJPENN.COM · Sep 6
Summary
Shavkat Rakhmonov said a potential welterweight fight with Islam Makhachev would be competitive, arguing his standup is better while calling himself the toughest opponent for the champion.
The matchup remains hypothetical because injuries halted Rakhmonov’s title push, forcing him to miss the chance to challenge for the 170-pound belt before surgery.
That division changed quickly in his absence: Belal Muhammad lost the title to Jack Della Maddalena, who then lost it to Makhachev at UFC 322 in November 2025.
Ian Machado Garry, whom Rakhmonov beat in 2024, got the first shot at Makhachev and lost by unanimous decision at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.
Rakhmonov’s team is targeting an early 2027 return, with his health and form likely determining whether a title-implication fight with Makhachev ever materializes.