Shavkat Rakhmonov’s name came up at UFC 329 media day, and Conor McGregor made his position on the unbeaten welterweight perfectly clear. Rakhmonov is the only fighter to have ever beaten McGregor’s protege Ian Machado Garry, making him a natural topic given McGregor’s close association with ‘The Future.’ The response was measured but pointed.
Conor McGregor’s Exact Words about Shavkat Rakhmonov
On UFC 329 media day, he said:
“I know he [Shavkat Rakhmonov] had a heavy injury and he’s building back from that. So I’ll leave him to it. I don’t really think anything of him at the minute. He’s got a lot of work to do. What has he got to offer me? You know, the title would have, he would have to acquire the title for me to even consider. He’s not a bad fighter. That’s it.”
The Injury Reality Surrounding Shavkat Rakhmonov
Shavkat Rakhmonov missed the entirety of 2025 due to a serious knee injury and has since suffered another setback to the same knee, with reports suggesting he could miss most of 2026 as well.
The timing could not be worse for a fighter who was building genuine momentum as one of the most feared welterweights on the roster before his body began letting him down. He has recently been seen back in training, which offers some encouragement, but the road back to full competitive readiness remains unclear.
Also read: Conor McGregor Reveals He Has Abstained From All Physical Touch Ahead of UFC 329 Comeback
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