Shavkat Rakhmonov

Shavkat Bakhtibayuly Rakhmonov (Шавкат Бақтыбайұлы Рахмонов, ; born October 23, 1994) is a Kazakh 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.

Background
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.

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

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.

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

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.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
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. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

As the first bout of his new five-fight contract, Rakhmonov faced Neil Magny on June 25, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 38. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus award.

Rakhmonov was scheduled to face Geoff Neal on January 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov. However, Neal pulled out due to an undisclosed injury. The pair was rescheduled for UFC 285 on March 4, 2023. At the weigh-ins, Neal weighed in at 175 pounds, 4 pounds over the non-title fight welterweight limit. As a result, the bout proceeded as a catchweight and Neal was fined 30% of his fight purse, which went to Rakhmonov. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. This fight earned Rakhmonov his first Fight of the Night award.

Rakhmonov was scheduled to face Kelvin Gastelum on September 16, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 227. However, Gastelum withdrew in late July after sustaining a facial fracture.

Rakhmonov faced Stephen Thompson on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296. He won via a rear-naked choke submission with just four seconds remaining in the second round, making him the first person to ever finish Thompson by submission in his MMA career.

Championships and accomplishments

 * World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA)
 * World Championship Welterweight (2013)
 * Asian Championship Welterweight (2014)
 * World Championship Welterweight (2014)
 * World Championship Welterweight (2015)
 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Carlston Harris and Neil Magny
 * Fight of the Night vs. Geoff Neal
 * Longest finish streak in UFC Welterweight division history (6)


 * M-1 Global
 * M-1 Welterweight Championship (One time)
 * One successful title defense
 * Kazakhstan Mixed Martial Arts Federation
 * KZMMAF Welterweight Championship (One time)
 * One successful title defense

Amateur mixed martial arts record

 * Loss
 * align=center| 11–2
 * Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * WMMA - 2015 World Championships - Finals
 * 2015-11-28
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Prague, Czech Republic
 * Win
 * align=center| 11–1
 * Beknazar Kainazar
 * WMMA - 2015 World Championships - Selection
 * 2015-11-27
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Prague, Czech Republic
 * Win
 * align=center| 10–1
 * Francesco Controversa
 * WMMA - 2015 World Championships - Selection
 * 2015-11-27
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Prague, Czech Republic
 * Win
 * align=center| 9–1
 * Carlos Irigoitia
 * Submission (rear-naked choke)
 * WMMA - 2015 World Championships - Selection
 * 2015-11-27
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|0:00
 * Prague, Czech Republic
 * Loss
 * align=center| 8–1
 * Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov
 * Decision (unanimous)
 * WMMA - 2014 World Championships - Finals
 * 2014-07-12
 * align=center|2
 * align=center|5:00
 * Minsk, Belarus
 * Win
 * align=center| 8–0
 * Felipe Salvador Nsue Ayiugono
 * WMMA - 2014 World Championships - Selection
 * 2014-07-11
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Minsk, Belarus
 * Win
 * align=center| 7–0
 * Ruslan Busel
 * WMMA - 2014 World Championships - Selection
 * 2014-07-11
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Minsk, Belarus
 * Win
 * align=center| 6–0
 * Bek Umarov
 * TKO (punches)
 * WMMA - 2014 Asian MMA Championships Finals
 * 2014-03-24
 * align=center|1
 * align=center|0:44
 * Astana, Kazakhstan
 * Win
 * align=center| 5–0
 * Akhliddin Mirzadavlatov
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Selection
 * 2013-10-18
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * Win
 * align=center| 4–0
 * Kamal Magomedov
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Finals
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * Win
 * align=center| 3–0
 * Said Davlatov
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Selection
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * Win
 * align=center| 2–0
 * Azizbek Kubanychbekov
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Selection
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * Win
 * align=center| 1–0
 * Patrick Asscher
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Selection
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * }
 * Said Davlatov
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Selection
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * Win
 * align=center| 2–0
 * Azizbek Kubanychbekov
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Selection
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * Win
 * align=center| 1–0
 * Patrick Asscher
 * WMMA - 2013 World MMA Championships - Selection
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * }
 * 2013-10-17
 * align=center|
 * align=center|
 * Saint Petersburg, Russia
 * }
 * }
 * }