Dana White hints at Rakhmonov vs. Morales as two unbeaten 19-0 contenders circle UFC welterweight title

Dana White has acknowledged the possibility of a welterweight clash between unbeaten contenders Shavkat Rakhmonov and Michael Morales, while stopping short of confirming the fight after Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10.

Both fighters sit at 19-0 and have fuelled speculation on social media about a potential matchup. Asked directly about the rumoured bout, White was deliberately vague but suggested news was close. “Could be, could be… If it was done, we would announce it, but yeah, we actually have a lot of cool stuff going on right now that we went over yesterday,” he said. “Yeah, we got a lot of good announcements coming up.”

Rakhmonov has been sidelined since defeating Ian Garry in December 2024, with recurring knee injuries keeping the Kazakh contender out of action. Morales, meanwhile, has been in devastating form, finishing Neil Magny, Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady — all in the first round — to cement his status as one of the division’s most dangerous prospects.

While the Rakhmonov-Morales picture remains unconfirmed, Carlos Prates is currently considered the front-runner to challenge welterweight champion Islam Makhachev next, adding another layer of complexity to a division with no shortage of credible contenders.

With two perfect records, contrasting styles and a shared hunger for a title shot, a matchup between Rakhmonov and Morales would carry significant implications for the welterweight pecking order. White’s comments suggest the UFC is actively working through its options, even if the formal announcement has yet to come.