The wait for Shavkat Rakhmonov‘s return to the Octagon is looking more promising, and it seems he’s going to face a young and hungry Michael Morales for his comeback.

The 19-0 undefeated Kazakh posted a picture of himself likely training at DAR Pro Team in Kazakhstan on his TikTok account and called out Morales with a cryptic caption.

“19-0 vs 19-0,” ‘Nomad’ wrote in the caption.

Despite Shavkat Rakhmonov not directly naming Michael Morales, his pointed caption makes the callout unmistakable. Outside his own 19-0 record, it’s only the Ecuadorian powerhouse who boasts an identical undefeated record in the UFC.

As of now, no confirmation has emerged from the UFC, but Rakhmonov’s TikTok post has made the showdown all but official.

However, Rakhmonov isn’t the only one who has hinted at the possibility of the matchup. ‘Nomad’s’ foreseeable opponent, Michael Morales, has also signaled his willingness to face the undefeated Kazakh.

Morales recently confirmed in a press conference that he already has a bout “lined up” for January against a very “tough” opponent, but he also clarified the fight won’t be for the title. Plus, the Ecuadorian fired some shots at Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates, accusing them of ducking him.

In a subsequent social media post, however, Morales called out all of his rivals, including the champion Islam Makhachev. But he reserved a special callout for Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“The final boss of this division, Shavkat Rakhmonov. You know where to find me,” Morales said in the video.  

With all of those callouts in motion, Rakhmonov’s social media post just made the clash even more evident. Plus, the fight also makes sense for the UFC, as pitting two undefeated fighters together would naturally gain traction, because everyone would be eager to see who loses their ‘0’ first.

Currently, Michael Morales hasn’t fought for nearly a year after his stellar knockout win over Sean Brady at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden in November, 2025. On the other hand, Shavkat Rakhmonov has remained inactive for nearly two years because of recurring injuries.

Yet the intrigue lingers over whether the Kazakh, who has notable wins over Ian Garry, Geoff Neal, and others, could weather the storm against a power striker like Morales. Also, the pressure rests on the Ecuadorian’s shoulders as well, because he would face the most seasoned name of his career in Rakhmonov. 

Now, despite the fight likely taking place next year, Rakhmonov’s ordeal with injuries will always remain a possible scare. 

Shavkat Rakhmonov’s injury-ridden past remains a concern against Michael Morales 

Shavkat Rakhmonov saw his UFC win streak climb to seven after he defeated Ian Garry at UFC 310. Though he beat the Irishman via unanimous decision, ‘Nomad’s’ victory came at a price, as he worsened a pre-existing knee injury involving his ACL and meniscus, with severe swelling and a lack of ligament stability.

As a result of the injury, Rakhmonov missed the entirety of 2025, and it looked like the Kazakh would be back in 2026. However, the 31-year-old suffered another knee injury during his rehabilitation in late January this year.

Rakhmonov was again required to go through surgery, further sidelining him from competition in 2026.

Soon, concern over the Kazakh’s place in the promotion loomed after the UFC removed him from the welterweight rankings due to inactivity. However, Rakhmonov’s team shared an update in July that made his fans breathe a sigh of relief.

“As for the timeline, there are no longer any medical reasons preventing Shavkat from continuing his professional career,” Mikhail Marquart, Rakhmonov’s personal physician, told Solaide UFC on Instagram in late July. “The timing of his return now depends on his strength and conditioning coaches and how quickly he can get back into fighting shape.

“It also depends on the UFC’s schedule. Every case is different. I think we can expect to see Shavkat back competing in the Octagon at the beginning of next year.”

Around that time, Shavkat Rakhmonov also posted a clip of himself training in the gym, showing a snippet of padwork, seemingly signaling he is looking forward to returning to the UFC.

So, all signs are looking positive for Shavkat Rakhmonov’s long-awaited comeback. Still, because of the recurring nature of his injury, the unease around the Kazakh will always linger. Plus, there is also a chance his performance might not be the same due to the grueling recovery process. 

Even so, it’s nothing but exciting to see Rakhmonov back and eager to take on a formidable challenge like Michael Morales.