Shavkat Rakhmonov teases Michael Morales fight with cryptic 19-0 post

Shavkat
Rakhmonov’s return fight could be a welterweight title
eliminator.

After being sidelined by recurring knee injuries since December
2024, Rakhmonov has teased a fight against an undefeated opponent
with the same record. While he didn’t reveal a name, he appears to
be hinting at top-ranked
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Michael
Morales.

Shavkat Rakhmonov’s clue points to undefeated UFC contender
Michael Morales

Rakhmonov hasn’t fought since a win over Ian Garry
nearly two years ago. “Nomad” was seen in a protective boot as
recently as this past summer but now appears to have a potential
opponent in mind.

“19-0 vs 19-0,” Rakhmonov wrote in a TikTok caption.

The only UFC welterweight with the same record as Rakhmonov is
Morales, who also recently hinted at a fight booking. Rakhmonov was
on the cusp of fighting for a title before his injury setbacks and
was subsequently removed from the official welterweight rankings
after undergoing another knee surgery. Meanwhile, Morales has
racked up consecutive first-round knockouts against Neil Magny,
Gilbert
Burns and Sean
Brady.

With Carlos
Prates the front-runner to challenge Islam
Makhachev for the title next, Rakhmonov vs. Morales could
produce the subsequent challenger.