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In the last few years the UFC\u2019s welterweight division has matured into one of the deepest, and most dangerous, shark tanks in the promotion. The rise of killer contenders for Islam Makhachev\u2019s crown has developed during a time when possibly best among those rising stars has been sitting on the sideline.<\/p>\n
Back when the Welterweight belt was around the waists of Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad there was a sense that those figures were just keeping it warm while Shavkat Rakhmonov worked his way to a title fight . The Kazakh earned one in 2024 after he beat Ian Machado Garry (on a badly injured knee) to increase his stellar record to 19-0.<\/p>\n
Since then, though, it\u2019s been a tough road to travel for \u2018Nomad\u2019.<\/p>\n
The knee injury Rakhamonov either carried into or suffered in the Machado Garry fight would require surgery. Unfortunately for him (and us fans and writers alike) Rakhmonov re-injured his knee during his rehab.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Rakhmonov gave us the clearest indication that his return was imminent. He posted on TikTok, of all places, the simple message: \u201c19-0 vs. 19-0\u201d.<\/p>\n
This can only be referencing a potential match-up between Rakhmonov and the only other man who is 19-0 in the division \u2014 Michael Morales. Whether this is news of an impending fight announcement or merely an attempt to manifest such a match-up, we don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
If this is a hint of what the UFC has planned, though, then that would be pretty exciting. The triumvirate of Rakhmonov, Morales and Carlos Prates feel like the best bets to test, or even possibly beat, the incumbent pound-for-pound king Makhachev.<\/p>\n
The 27 year-old Morales got his 19th win by sonning Sean Brady at UFC 322 last November. That first round TKO was his third in a row following wins over Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny.<\/p>\n
For now, let\u2019s all keep our fingers crossed that Rakhmonov makes it through camp and returns to action sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n