RIZIN and PFL Set Historic Double Championship Fight Between Razhabali Shaidulloev and AJ McKee
A first-of-its-kind championship clash is set to headline SUPER RIZIN.5 as RIZIN Fighting Federation and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) have announced a landmark cross-promotional main event between reigning RIZIN Featherweight Champion Razhabali Shaidulloev and former PFL featherweight champion AJ McKee.
The bout will make mixed martial arts history, with both the RIZIN Featherweight Championship and the PFL World Featherweight Championship on the line simultaneously. While cross-promotional title challenges have taken place before, this marks the first time two major organizations have agreed to place their respective world titles at stake in a single fight hosted under one promotion.
Scheduled for September 10 under RIZIN rules, the championship contest will be fought over three five-minute rounds at 66 kilograms (145 pounds). When the final bell rings, one fighter will walk away as the unified champion of both organizations.
For Shaidulloev, the fight presents an opportunity to cement his place among the world’s elite. The undefeated Kyrgyz standout has emerged as the dominant force atop RIZIN’s featherweight division and now faces the biggest challenge of his career against one of MMA’s most accomplished names.
Standing opposite him will be McKee, one of PFL’s biggest stars and a former world champion known for his dynamic striking, elite grappling and finishing ability. “The Mercenary” has long been considered one of the top featherweights in the sport, and a victory would add another championship to his résumé while further strengthening PFL’s standing on the international stage.
RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara described the event as a revolutionary step for the sport, emphasizing that the partnership goes beyond a typical promotional rivalry by allowing both championships to be contested in the same bout.
PFL CEO John Martin echoed those sentiments, calling the matchup a defining moment for MMA and saying the promotion’s goal has always been to create the biggest fights possible for fans. Martin added that seeing McKee represent PFL in Japan while competing for both world titles fulfills that vision.
Beyond the championship implications, the contest symbolizes a growing partnership between two of the world’s leading MMA organizations. Rather than keeping their champions separated by promotional boundaries, RIZIN and PFL are embracing collaboration to determine who truly sits atop the featherweight division.
With championship gold, promotional pride and a place in MMA history on the line, Shaidulloev versus McKee is shaping up to be one of the most significant cross-promotional fights the sport has ever seen.
Beyond the history-making featherweight title unification between Razhabali Shaidulloev and AJ McKee, RIZIN has unveiled six additional bouts for SUPER RIZIN.5, assembling a card that blends championship-caliber talent, Japanese fan favorites and rising international contenders.
The co-feature will see Japanese stars Mikuru Asakura and Shinya Aoki square off in a lightweight super fight. Asakura has become one of the faces of RIZIN during its rise in popularity, while Aoki remains one of the most accomplished submission specialists in MMA history. The matchup pits Asakura’s striking and aggressive style against Aoki’s elite grappling in a clash of two generations of Japanese mixed martial arts.
Another featured featherweight contest has Ren Hiramoto returning to action against Kazakhstan’s Karshyga Dautbek. Hiramoto’s striking prowess will be tested by one of the division’s most dangerous knockout artists, with both fighters looking to strengthen their standing in RIZIN’s loaded featherweight division.
Former RIZIN Featherweight Champion Yutaka Saito also returns to face the always-exciting YA-MAN. Saito brings championship experience and a well-rounded skill set into a matchup against the aggressive striker, who has become a fan favorite thanks to his relentless pressure and willingness to engage.
The featherweight division will also feature Vugar Karamov taking on rising Japanese prospect Ryo Takagi. Karamov enters as one of the division’s top international contenders, while Takagi looks to secure the biggest victory of his young career.
At lightweight, former RIZIN champion Roberto Satoshi Souza meets surging contender Shunta Nomura. Souza’s world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials will be challenged by Nomura’s athleticism and knockout power in a bout that could have title implications moving forward.
Rounding out the announced lineup, Daichi Tomizawa faces Donmai Kawabata in a 59-kilogram contest. Both fighters have built reputations for exciting performances, making the matchup one expected to deliver action from the opening exchange.
RIZIN also confirmed that fan favorite Chihiro Suzuki has been forced to withdraw from the event. Fans who purchased designated Suzuki Support Seats will be eligible for refunds, with details to be announced through the promotion’s official channels. Additionally, RIZIN revealed that special Razhabali Shaidulloev Support Seats will go on sale as the promotion builds toward the historic championship main event.
Additional fights, ticket information, broadcast details and international viewing options are expected to be announced by RIZIN and the Professional Fighters League in the coming weeks.
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