Things have gone from bad to worse for UFC star Shavkat Rakhmonov. While recurring injury kept him on the sidelines, his personal life behind the scenes appears to have been suffering as well. According to a new report, the undefeated Kazakhstani fighter is now separated from his wife, Gulayim Rakhmonova, the mother of his four children.
“Shavkat Rakhmonov’s wife, Gulayim Rakhmonova, announced on social media that they have officially divorced,” Agent MMA reported on X. “She also claimed he has refused involvement with their children, saying she is raising four kids and expecting a fifth. Rakhmonov has not publicly responded.”
Per Infohub[dot]kz, Gulayim detailed her husband’s alleged rejection of their children on social media.
“Today he rejected his own children, saying they resemble their mother too much,” she wrote. “Yes, I gave birth to 4 children and am expecting a fifth. It turns out I give birth too much. If the father doesn’t need the child, then the child no longer needs the father! May God give me the strength to raise my children,”
‘Nomad’ last competed against Ian Machado Garry in December 2024 in a No. 1 contender bout. Although he won the fight, Rakhmonov later revealed he had fought through a knee injury, which ultimately forced him to withdraw from a scheduled title clash with then-champion Belal Muhammad. He was initially expected to return in 2026, and kept teasing his return.
Still, concerns grew in January when a video surfaced on social media showing the Kazakh fighter on crutches and wearing a leg brace, casting further doubt on his comeback. By February, the UFC removed him from the welterweight rankings after reports confirmed he had re-injured the same leg and needed a second surgery.
Regardless, this is not the first time Shavkat Rakhmonov’s wife has come into the spotlight.
Wife and children of Shavkat Rakhmonov survived a car crash that killed two
In July last year, Shavkat Rakhmonov’s wife and children narrowly avoided tragedy after a car crash in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl Region claimed two lives. According to reports from Kursiv, a Toyota Land Cruiser 200 lost control and flipped over along the Almaty–Yekaterinburg Highway.
Rakhmonov’s manager, Daniel Rubenstein, confirmed the condition of his loved ones, stating they are stable after being hospitalized following the accident. While details surrounding the two fatalities remain undisclosed, images from the scene showed the SUV completely wrecked on the roadside.
That being said, Rakhmonov’s time out of the Octagon appears to have taken its toll on him and his relationship with his wife. However, the undefeated UFC star has not commented on the reports yet. What do you make of the situation?
