Shavkat Eyes No. 1 Contender Fight in November or December

[PDestroyer1405]

Shavkat attended the event in Abu Dhabi where he cornered Asu Almabayev. In an interview there, he said he wants to return in November or December and is ready for a number one contender fight. Who should he face? A fight with Brady would be excellent.

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

They'll give him Brady I'd imagine. Belal, Usman, and Garry could be matched up any which way and they'd be new fights at least, and forces the 3 of them to win at least one more before getting a title shot.

 

[tornado362]

At least he’s no longer demanding a title shot and has figured out the division has moved on past him due to his inactivity

 

[Koala]

Let's do a MSG card with Giacomo vs Makhachev, Brady vs Shavkat, Morales vs Edwards, and Belal vs Garry
Most impressive winner gets the next TS

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Brady makes the most sense.

 

[Fight Professor]

It sounds like the recovery is going well. The previous estimate was early 2026.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Brady is a good fight

 

[HuskySamoan]

What was his injury? Hes been out a minute.

 

[JoeRowe]

ALL WW MSG PPV here we come

Thread 'MSG should be an All-WW PPV'

Jul 22, 2025

JDM vs Islam
Brady vs Shavkat
Usman vs Belal
Garry vs Leon
Colby vs Burns

An amazing title fight & a perfect #1 contender fight atop the card. Then 3 other fights that may end up being boring, but all have beef/heat/backstories and would make for fun build-ups.

I was gonna say Morales vs Buckley but I think they want Morales for Noche, even though he isn't Mexican. Buckley likes to be active so I think that fight is possible for Noche co-main.

This would leave Ilia, Volk, Pantoja, Kayla, Shevy, Zhang for DEC/JAN/FEB ppvs.

Thoughts?

• JoeRowe

• 

 

[balkanbomber85]

I think nothing would cement a nr1 contender position as much as beating the old champ!

Feed Bilel to him and watch Showcat put the last nail in the coffin of Bilels title dreams.

 

[r-harper-1]

Shavkat vs Muhammad

 

[ArtardFiesta]

give him belal or leon although belal has already ducked him.

if you want him to work back in give him usman or colby. Force colby to take it, we will all enjoy it accept colby is the biggest pussy and coward in mma (ducked khamzat, ian garry, kevin holland).

 

[chinarice]

I'll believe this guy is back when I see him actually step into a cage. Dude doesn't fight. Would be terrible if WW got stuck with this dude who never fights as the champ.

 

[Portland8242]

If it's Brady vs Shavkat then Usman and Ian are gonna have to fight each other too. There ain't no room to be sitting out for a title shot in this division, it's way too logjammed as is.

 

[jeff7b9]

I think nothing would cement a nr1 contender position as much as beating the old champ!

Feed Bilel to him and watch Showcat put the last nail in the coffin of Bilels title dreams.

Seems like a waste to put Shavkat on the prelims, no?

 

[RockyLockridge]

crazy he doesn't get a title shot after being robbed of one, then fighting and still not getting the next one. Incredibly unfair for him.

eitherway I hope they dont pick off brady in the process. Feed leon to shavkat. Then lets see brady vs usman.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

ALL WW MSG PPV here we come

Thread 'MSG should be an All-WW PPV'

Jul 22, 2025

JDM vs Islam
Brady vs Shavkat
Usman vs Belal
Garry vs Leon
Colby vs Burns

An amazing title fight & a perfect #1 contender fight atop the card. Then 3 other fights that may end up being boring, but all have beef/heat/backstories and would make for fun build-ups.

I was gonna say Morales vs Buckley but I think they want Morales for Noche, even though he isn't Mexican. Buckley likes to be active so I think that fight is possible for Noche co-main.

This would leave Ilia, Volk, Pantoja, Kayla, Shevy, Zhang for DEC/JAN/FEB ppvs.

Thoughts?

• JoeRowe

• 

No doubt Brady... especially if they want to do Islam v Topuria sometime in the near future.

 

[HHJ]

His wife and child were just badly injured in a car wreck. That unfortunatley might derail his comeback.

 

[rjmbrd]

I'll believe this guy is back when I see him actually step into a cage. Dude doesn't fight. Would be terrible if WW got stuck with this dude who never fights as the champ.

He would have 2 fights in 2020 but the entire event was cancelled over Covid. In 2021 he didn't get a fight until June, and he did not refuse or cancel any bouts. He then has a standard 2 fights per year 2022/2023. The drag in 2024 was waiting for a title shot.

2020: 1 fight (debut in October)
2021: 1 fight
2022: 2 fights
2023: 2 fights
2024: 1 fight

He's had in total 4 different fighters / fights cancelled on him having no fault of his own. Now he's been out with an injury, but that eventually happens to everyone.

 

[pick999]

I thought he was already the #1 contender