Shavkat Rakhmonov

Shavkat Rakhmonov, known by the nickname "Nomad," is a Kazakh mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the UFC. Born in Sho'rchi, Uzbekistan, to an ethnic Kazakh family, he represents Kazakhstan in competition and has become one of the country's most prominent combat sports exports.

Rakhmonov began training in martial arts as a child and has described discovering MMA as an instant passion. Before establishing himself as a professional fighter, he worked outside the sport to support his training. He turned professional in the mid-2010s after winning a WMMAA amateur world championship, building his record through regional promotions in Kazakhstan and with M-1 Global, where he captured a welterweight title, before signing with the UFC as the first fighter from Kazakhstan to do so. He trains with the Kill Cliff FC team.

His credentials include the rank of Master of Sport in both Combat Sambo and MMA, reflecting the sambo tradition that underpins much of his grappling game, along with amateur world and Asian championship honors won prior to his professional career.

Inside the cage, Rakhmonov has built a reputation as one of the most well-rounded and dangerous competitors in the welterweight division. He blends a sambo-based grappling foundation with sharp, technical striking, allowing him to control fights standing or on the mat and to hunt finishes from almost any position. His ability to close distance, initiate scrambles, and convert dominant positions into submissions or stoppages has made him a highly regarded threat throughout the division.

Career highlights include UFC victories over Alex Oliveira, Michel Prazeres, Carlston Harris, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen Thompson, several of which earned him Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses, as well as a title-eliminator win over Ian Machado Garry

Stats last updated: August 09, 2026