Morales vs Rakhamonov targeted for UFC 336 in January 2027 title eliminator

A welterweight title eliminator between Michael Morales and Shavkat Rakhamonov is reportedly being targeted for January 2027, though the matchup has not been officially confirmed. The fight is said to be planned for UFC 336 as a five-round co-main event, with the winner positioned as number one contender.

Rakhamonov has reportedly returned to full training and agreed to the matchup, with the goal of earning a title shot as soon as possible. Morales, meanwhile, has been teasing fight news for several days, which has added fuel to the talk of a deal.

Michael Morales

Morales, a 27-year-old from Ecuador, is unbeaten at 19-0 and sits at number three in the welterweight rankings. He trains out of Entram Gym and fights from an orthodox stance. At six feet tall with a 79-inch reach, he uses his length to land 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He averages 1.09 takedowns per 15 minutes and has not attempted a submission, a profile that points to a striker who stays on the feet.

Shavkat Rakhamonov

Rakhamonov is the other half of the reported pairing. The report says he is healthy enough to be back in full training and has accepted the fight with Morales, with a title shot as his stated objective.

Why it matters

• The fight is described as a number one contender bout, meaning the winner would be next in line for the welterweight title.
• Morales would put his 19-0 record on the line against a fighter chasing a quick route back to a title shot.
• A five-round co-main event slot would underline how much weight the promotion places on the matchup.

Until the UFC makes an official announcement, the date, card placement and status of the bout remain unconfirmed.