Shavkat Rakhmonov Teases UFC Return Against Michael Morales With “19-0” Hint

Just two days in the past, Michael Morales put the UFC’s welterweight division on discover. In a hype video teasing his next transfer, Morales called out some of the largest names at 170 kilos, including Islam Makhachev, Carlos Prates and Ian Garry.

However, the most attention-grabbing identify on his checklist was Shavkat Rakhmonov. The Kazakh welterweight has been on the sidelines since UFC 310 in December 2024, where he picked up a win over Ian Garry while dealing with a severe knee damage.

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Rakhmonov suffered a torn ACL and meniscus and initially tried to recuperate through relaxation and rehabilitation. However, he finally underwent surgical procedure on January 31, 2026, with an initial restoration timeline of 9 to 10 months.

His coaches have frequently given followers glimpses of his restoration, including footage from his coaching and sparring periods. Back in May 2026, his supervisor Daniel Rubenstein revealed that the early indications advised Rakhmonov might not be prepared to return until 2027 at the earliest.

Now, Morales calling Rakhmonov “the final boss” of the welterweight division and teasing a potential January 2027 matchup could be a signal that followers might finally get to see “Nomad” back inside the Octagon.

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Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Latest TikTok May Hint at What’s Next for His UFC Career

Rakhmonov not too long ago took to his TikTok account and shared a video of himself making ready for a sparring session. While the footage itself caught followers’ consideration, it was the caption that actually got people speaking. It learn, “19-0 VS 19-0

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The message is fairly simple to decipher. Both Rakhmonov and Morales are presently undefeated at 19-0 in their skilled MMA careers, making a potential matchup between the two one of the most attention-grabbing fights at 170 kilos.

For the unversed, Morales most not too long ago competed at UFC 322, where he knocked out Sean Brady. Rakhmonov, meanwhile, beat Garry at UFC 310, although the bout came on a evening when his knee issues turned even more severe.

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A knee damage involving both the meniscus and ACL is no small setback, particularly for a fighter who had been competing at such a high degree. There have been loads of examples of fighters seeing their careers disrupted by severe knee issues, with Dominick Cruz being one of the most notable circumstances.

Rakhmonov’s long layoff has already had another main consequence. He was eliminated from the UFC’s official welterweight rankings in February 2026 after spending almost 13 months out of motion.

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Still, a healthy return in 2027 could immediately put Rakhmonov back into the dialog. Before going the distance with Garry, the Kazakh had completed all 18 of his earlier opponents, showcasing the mixture of energy and ending capacity that made him one of the most feared fighters in the division.

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His resume already consists of spectacular wins over Garry, Stephen Thompson, and Geoff Neal, and a comeback battle against an undefeated fighter like Morales would be a severe method to announce his return.

If Morales actually does have Rakhmonov in his sights, this matchup could have main implications for the 170lbs title image. Depending on how the division performs out, the winner could doubtlessly discover himself in place to problem the winner of Islam Makhachev vs. Carlos Prates.