Shavkat Rakhmonov hints at battle of undefeateds for next UFC fight

Shavkat Rakhmonov has signalled strong interest in a high-stakes matchup against Michael Morales, potentially setting up a clash between two undefeated welterweights. Both fighters currently hold perfect 19-0 records and have been sidelined recently: Rakhmonov due to persistent knee injuries since December 2024, and Morales awaiting his first booking since defeating Sean Brady in November 2025.

Morales has been vocal about his next opponent, recently releasing a video calling out multiple division heavyweights including UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, Carlos Prates, and Ian Machado Garry. He also referred to Rakhmonov as "the final boss"—a challenge that appears to have resonated. Though Rakhmonov has not explicitly named Morales in public statements, a recent TikTok caption hinting at a battle between undefeated records suggests the Kazakhstan-born fighter is intrigued by the prospect.

Rakhmonov's time away from competition has been frustrating given his momentum. His last outing saw him defeat Garry in what appeared to be a springboard to title contention; instead, Garry went on to challenge Makhachev for the belt while Rakhmonov recovered. Meanwhile, Morales has built an impressive streak with three consecutive first-round knockouts over Brady, Gilbert Burns, and Neil Magny, establishing himself as a legitimate challenger.

While neither fighter's team has made an official announcement, a Rakhmonov-Morales showdown would represent a significant welterweight event—two unbeaten contenders colliding with real stakes in a division currently dominated by Makhachev. The bout would likely determine who moves closest to a title shot.