Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals Serious Ankle Injury ahead of UFC 296

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Shavkat Rakhmonov notched the biggest win of his career on Saturday, but it turns out he nearly didn’t make it to the cage at all.

Rakhmonov handed Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson his first ever submission loss via a second-round rear naked choke on the UFC 296 main card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This marked the 18th finish for the undefeated Kazakh in as many career outings, including six in the UFC. Having now notched wins over tested welterweights like Geoff Neal, Neil Magny and now Thompson, “Nomad” called for a title shot next.

After the event, “Nomad” revealed that he suffered a major ligament tear in his ankle six weeks out from his clash against Thompson which curtailed his kicking game and had him contemplating withdrawing from the event entirely. Rakhmonov said during the post-fight show:

“I had a very serious injury and I was even close to pulling out from the fight, but I decided to risk it all. and that’s why I didn’t kick it with my legs, just used my knees. But thanks God, I got the victory…Hopefully next time, with God’s willing, I’m going to be 100 percent. But it doesn’t matter. Whatever injury [I have], you know I’m going to fight to my last blood, until the last sip of blood, because I have to get a win.”