The MMA career of Shavkat Rakhmonov could be over, according to welterweight contender Sean Brady.

Rakhmonov hasn't fought since December 2024, when he beat Ian Machado Garry by decision. In the fight, he re-injured his knee, which resulted in knee surgery. Since then, Rakhmonov hasn't fought, and Sean Brady believes he's done and won't fight again.

“(Carlos) Prates is going to fight Islam and then you have (Michael) Morales fight Shavkat, and the winner of that fights for the belt next,†Brady said to Daniel Cormier. “He's hitting pads and stuff. He's saying he's coming back. I don't think he's ever going to fight again. I think he's done because every time he tries to come back, his knee just keeps going out. He's not going to be able to make it through a camp. I've never had knee problems, but when you see guys with knee problems, it's just over and over and over again – especially with him. The camp is the hardest part.â€

If Rakhmonov doesn't fight again, it would be one of the biggest what-ifs in recent MMA history. He was a perfect 19-0 and had wins over the likes of Garry, Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal, and Neil Magny, among others. He was on the cusp of a title shot, but injuries have derailed his career and could end it, according to Brady.

Rakhmonov's coach, however, did recently post some training footage of him in the gym striking. So, perhaps he can return soon, which would add another threat to the welterweight division. However, Brady doubts that will happen.

As for Sean Brady, he's set to headline UFC Vegas 124 against Gabriel Bonfim on November 7 at the Apex. Brady is coming off a decision win over Joaquin Buckley to return to the win column.

Do you think Shavkat Rakhmonov will fight again?

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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Shamil Erdogan headlines the heavyweight MMA main event of ONE Fight Night 48 against Paul Elliott, broadcasting live in US primetime from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, October 2. Erdogan carries a perfect 13-0 record into the bout. All five of his ONE Championship wins ending by finish. Moreover, he has an average fight time of just two minutes and 34 seconds.

The Dagestan-born wrestler has built that finishing rate against elite competition. He has stoppages over Aung La N Sang, Gilberto Galvao, and most recently Ryugo Takeuchi. Each result strengthened his case for a shot at the vacant ONE Heavyweight MMA World Title.

Paul Elliott's knockout streak complicates the picture against Shamil Erdogan

Paul Elliott brings his own case for that same title shot. A stretch of knockout wins turned his ONE Championship tenure around. His most recent victory, a six-second head-kick finish of Regan Upshaw at ONE Fight Night 44 this past June, ranks among the fastest finishes in promotional history.

The 34-year-old Briton's 8-2 record, with one no-contest, includes a finish in every professional win. That gives him a puncher's chance against an opponent with a considerable experience edge. A decisive result for either man on October 2 could go a long way toward settling who gets the next crack at heavyweight gold.

Neither man has fought for a ONE Championship World Title before. That makes this matchup a rare opportunity for both to leapfrog directly into World Title contention with a single statement win in front of a US primetime audience.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters and champs have weighed
in on whether Islam
Makhachev has earned GOAT status.

The Russian defended his welterweight title for the first time at
UFC
330, picking up his fifth defense overall in the UFC after a
dominant run at lightweight. His latest win, a decision victory
over Ian
Garry, served as a record-breaker, with Makhachev now the
leader for most consecutive wins in promotional history.

Chris
Weidman, Dustin
Poirier and Jorge
Masvidal have offered their takes on where he stands among the
sport’s greatest fighters.

Chris Weidman questions Islam Makhachev’s title defenses as
Dustin Poirier backs Jon Jones for UFC GOAT

In the latest episode of “Deep Waters,†Weidman, Poirier and
Masvidal shared their thoughts on whether Makhachev has earned the
right to be called the greatest fighter in UFC history.

“I am not saying that yet,†Weidman said, responding to the
question about Makhachev being the GOAT now. “Because I'm still old
school… Title defenses mean a lot and you go back to Anderson
Silva or Demetrious
Johnson if we're ever talking about GOAT… I don't know if he's
there yet.â€

Poirier then chimed in, giving a definitive answer for who he
considers the GOAT.

“To me, Jon
Jones.â€

Masvidal, meanwhile, pointed to the level of competition Makhachev
faced during his lightweight title reign. While the former BMF
champ acknowledges Alexander
Volkanovski as one of the greats, he emphasized that many of
Makhachev’s 155-pound title defenses came against former
featherweights.

“Two of those title defenses at lightweight were to a ‘45er,â€
Masvidal said before Weidman pointed out that Charles
Oliveira also previously fought at 145 pounds.

Has Islam
Makhachev earned GOAT status? pic.twitter.com/38qMXm5ZTf

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
August 18, 2026