Dana White reignited speculation about a matchup between unbeaten welterweights Shavkat Rakhmonov and Michael Morales. Speaking after the Season 10 finale of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO neither confirmed nor denied the fight.
An answer that leaves the door open
Asked directly about a potential clash between the two undefeated fighters, White said, “If it was done, we would announce it,” before adding that there are “a lot of good announcements coming up.” He named no opponent and no date, but his wording did not rule out the matchup.
The rumor picked up steam in early October, when Shavkat Rakhmonov posted a TikTok video of himself training at DAR Pro Team in Kazakhstan, captioned “19-0 vs 19-0.” He named no opponent, but Michael Morales is the only other fighter in the division carrying an identical unbeaten record, which was enough to fuel days of speculation among fans and reporters.
Neither fighter has denied the matchup since. Morales has instead kept calling out names across the welterweight rankings in a string of recent public appearances, though without announcing an official return date of his own.
Rakhmonov’s long road back
Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0) has not fought since his unanimous decision win over Ian Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024. He tore his ACL and meniscus in that fight, an injury that kept him out of the cage for all of 2025.
His rehab suffered another setback in January 2026, when a new knee injury during strength work required a second surgery. The UFC has since removed him from the welterweight rankings for inactivity, a standard move for fighters who go too long without facing a ranked opponent.
In July, his physician, Mikhail Marquart, said there were “no longer any medical reasons” keeping Rakhmonov from fighting, and projected a return early next year. Since then, the Kazakh has given no firm date for his comeback.
Morales keeps finishing people in round one
Michael Morales (19-0) has not slowed down on his climb up the welterweight ranks. He has finished his last three opponents in the first round: Neil Magny, Gilbert Burns, and Sean Brady at UFC 322 in November 2025. That run has made him one of the most in-demand names at 170 pounds.
Morales has not fought since beating Brady and has used the layoff to stay in the headlines, calling Rakhmonov “the final boss of this division” in a social media video posted in early October.
Carlos Prates still the front-runner for a title shot
Despite the buzz around Rakhmonov and Morales, Carlos Prates remains viewed as the next challenger in line for champion Islam Makhachev. A Rakhmonov-Morales fight would likely decide the next man in the queue rather than an immediate title shot.
That leaves the welterweight division backed up at the top: a champion waiting on his next challenge, a designated contender in Prates, and two unbeaten fighters still searching for a date to settle their own rivalry.
Why the UFC is in no rush to confirm it
White’s hedging is not unusual for the promotion. The UFC typically holds off on officially booking a fight until both sides have signed, especially when one fighter is coming off a long layoff due to injury. In Rakhmonov’s case, the recent knee history adds an extra layer of caution before any card announcement.
For Michael Morales, there is no medical reason holding up a quick return. The Ecuadorian has not fought since beating Sean Brady and has spent the past several weeks saying he is ready to face anyone near the top of the division, Rakhmonov included.
It remains to be seen whether the UFC will book the two unbeaten fighters directly against each other, or have them fight separately first to confirm Rakhmonov can hold up after two years out. White ruled out neither option when he addressed the matter.
Either way, the welterweight division is unlikely to stay quiet for long. Between a champion looking for his next defense, a front-runner in Prates, and two unbeaten fighters angling for a spot in the title picture, the next few months should bring at least one of these matchups into focus.
