Michael Morales Targets 2027 Bout Against Shavkat Rakhmonov

Michael Morales is targeting a future matchup with Shavkat Rakhmonov, whom he characterizes as the division's final boss. The Ecuadorian fighter, who last competed at UFC 322 in 2025, is scheduled to make his return to the octagon in January 2027 following a lengthy layoff due to consecutive injuries.

Rakhmonov has faced recurring issues with the same knee, which previously led to his removal from the rankings and required multiple surgeries. While Rakhmonov has resumed training, fellow fighter Sean Brady has publicly expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of the Kazakh fighter returning to competition.