Rakhmonov teases 2027 return, points to unbeaten Michael Morales

Shavkat Rakhmonov appears to be signaling a comeback, with a pair of social media posts pointing to a 2027 return and a possible meeting with fellow unbeaten welterweight Michael Morales. The reports are not confirmed, and no fight has been booked or made official.

Rakhmonov has been out with a knee injury since beating Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024. He captioned training footage "2027" and followed it with a second post reading "19-0 VS 19-0," a clear nod to Morales, who carries the same perfect record.

The Kazakh fighter, nicknamed "Nomad," is 19-0 and 31 years old. He trains with DAR Team and stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach. His numbers underline why he has been so hard to stop: he lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy, averages 1.4 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.2 submissions in the same span.

Morales, a 27-year-old from Ecuador who trains at Entram Gym, is also 19-0. He is ranked third at welterweight. The six-foot, 183 cm fighter has a 79-inch reach and is the busier striker on paper, landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He averages 1.09 takedowns per 15 minutes and has not attempted a submission in his career.

Machado Garry, whom Rakhmonov beat in his last appearance, is 17-2 and currently holds the number one spot in the division at age 28.

Why it matters

• A matchup of two undefeated welterweights with 19-0 records would guarantee one fighter's first loss.
• Rakhmonov would be returning to a division where Morales already sits third in the rankings.
• The styles contrast sharply: Rakhmonov's submission threat and accuracy against Morales' higher striking output and longer reach.
• A 2027 timeline would extend Rakhmonov's layoff well beyond two years.