In Brief
- PFL and Rizin Fighting Federation have announced an unprecedented crossover fight: both organizations’ featherweight belts will be on the line in a single bout.
- AJ McKee (25-2), a former Bellator champion, will face Razhabali Shaidulloev (19-0), Rizin’s unbeaten champion, on September 10 in Osaka, Japan.
- The bout will take place at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, headlining the Super Rizin 5 event.
- It is a first in MMA history: never before have two different organizations’ belts been put on the line at the same time in a single fight.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) and the Rizin Fighting Federation have just announced an unprecedented event in MMA history. On September 10, at Super Rizin 5 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, AJ McKee will face Razhabali Shaidulloev in a fight where both organizations’ featherweight belts will be on the line at the same time.
Until now, it was not uncommon for a fighter to leave his home promotion to challenge the champion of another organization. But never had both titles been put on the line at the same time, in a single fight staged by one of the two leagues. “There have already been several cases of a fighter joining another organization to challenge its champion,” explained Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara in a statement. “This time, however, we are attempting something unprecedented: putting both organizations’ belts on the line in a single fight staged by just one of the two promotions.”
PFL CEO John Martin struck a similar tone: “Since I became PFL’s CEO, my mission has been to bring together the best fighters and deliver the matchups fans want. With this extraordinary partnership, I’m eager to honor that promise and give the MMA community a truly unique opportunity. For me, this will be a particular experience: I’ll be fully backing one fighter, and I can’t wait to be cageside to see the Mercenary bring both belts back to the PFL.”
On paper, the matchup looks lopsided on record but fascinating stylistically. Razhabali Shaidulloev, Rizin’s unbeaten featherweight champion, holds a perfect record of 19 wins with no losses, including 13 by first-round stoppage. The Kyrgyz fighter won and then defended his belt three times in under a year, never once needing to go past the second round of his professional career.
Across the cage, AJ McKee (25-2) is riding a three-fight winning streak since his return to the division. The American, a former Bellator featherweight champion before the promotion’s merger with the PFL, had been waiting for some time for a title opportunity in the division now reunified under the PFL banner. This fight gives him the chance to capture two belts at once, against one of the most dominant featherweights on the Japanese circuit.
The rest of the Super Rizin 5 card has also been revealed: Mikuru Asakura will face Shinya Aoki, Ren Hiramoto will meet Karshyga Dautbek, Yutaka Saito will take on Ren Sugiyama, Vugar Karamov will square off against Ryo Takagi, Roberto Satoshi de Souza will cross paths with Shunta Nomura, and Daichi Tomizawa will face Ryo Kawabata.
This announcement confirms the growing ties between Western and Japanese MMA organizations, at a time when several leagues are looking to multiply marquee events to capture a global audience’s attention. The September 10 date in Osaka already looks set to be one of the most closely watched events of the year for featherweight fans.
FAQ
When and where does the fight between AJ McKee and Razhabali Shaidulloev take place?
The fight will take place on September 10, 2026, at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, headlining the Super Rizin 5 event.
Why is this fight considered historic?
It is the first time in MMA history that two different organizations’ belts, here PFL and Rizin, are put on the line at the same time in a single fight.
What are both fighters’ records?
AJ McKee holds a record of 25 wins and 2 losses, while Razhabali Shaidulloev is unbeaten with 19 wins, including 13 by first-round stoppage.
