Shavkat Rakhmonov won't return in January, says manager, denying Della Maddalena fight talk
Daniel Rubenstein called talk of a Jack Della Maddalena fight "completely false". The unbeaten welterweight has not fought since 2024 and has needed several knee surgeries.
Shavkat Rakhmonov will not return to the UFC in January, his manager Daniel Rubenstein has said, shutting down talk of a fight with former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.
"Completely false and inaccurate. JDM hasn't been mentioned as an opponent and Shavkat won't be returning in January," Rubenstein said on X.
Rakhmonov, 32 and unbeaten, has not fought since 2024, when he handed Ian Machado Garry his first professional loss. He has been out since with a knee injury that needed several surgeries and rehabilitation. In July his physician said there was nothing stopping him from returning.
Michael Morales teased a fight with Rakhmonov earlier this month, but has since been booked to fight Carlos Prates for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 in Toronto on 30 January, with champion Islam Makhachev out of action. Prates had originally been expected to challenge Makhachev on that card.
Della Maddalena has not fought since May, when Prates stopped him in the third round of the UFC Perth main event.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More MMA from Combat Sports UK
- Luana Santos says win over Yana Santos could earn her the next UFC bantamweight title shot
- Colby Covington says Carlos Prates and Michael Morales 'aren't worthy' of an interim title
- Islam Makhachev says his next fight is 'one of the last in my career'
- Francis Marshall misses weight by 2lb for UFC Vegas 123 fight with Dakota Hope
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.