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Rajabali Shaidulloev made history at Super RIZIN 5, becoming a two promotion champion after defeating former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee by unanimous decision in the main event at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
Shaidulloev defended his RIZIN featherweight championship and captured the vacant PFL featherweight title with a 30 – 27 score from all three judges. The victory extended his unbeaten professional record to 20 – 0 according to Japanese outlets, although some international databases still list him at 19 – 0 following the fight.
The result capped a major night for RIZIN and PFL, with the two promotions putting their featherweight championships on the line in a historic title unification fight. The event drew nearly 49,000 fans to Kyocera Dome Osaka.
Shaidulloev survives early danger before taking control
McKee showed immediately why he was considered Shaidulloev’s toughest opponent to date. The former Bellator champion caught Shaidulloev with clean punches early in the opening round, briefly putting the RIZIN champion in trouble. Shaidulloev responded almost immediately by changing levels, lifting McKee off the canvas and delivering a powerful slam.
From there, the fight moved toward Shaidulloev’s preferred territory. The undefeated champion repeatedly forced McKee into grappling exchanges, maintained top position and landed short ground strikes. McKee did threaten with submissions and briefly created scrambles, but Shaidulloev consistently regained control.
The second round followed a similar pattern. Shaidulloev mixed his wrestling with striking, connecting with punches and a hard body kick before taking McKee back to the canvas. McKee’s movement and striking remained dangerous, but he struggled to create sustained offense as the champion continued to pressure him.
The third round was particularly significant because it was the first time Shaidulloev had reached that stage of a professional fight. His previous 19 victories had all reportedly ended before the final bell.
McKee managed to take Shaidulloev’s back during one sequence, but the American could not turn the position into a decisive attack. Shaidulloev escaped, returned to top position and continued wrestling until the final horn. All three judges gave Shaidulloev every round.
A historic two belt achievement
The victory gave Shaidulloev both the RIZIN and PFL featherweight championships and added another major name to his already impressive run. The 25 year old had established himself as one of RIZIN’s most dominant fighters since joining the promotion. His previous victories included finishes over Kleber Koike, Juan Archuleta and Mikuru Asakura.
McKee represented a significant step up in experience. The American former Bellator champion entered the bout with a 25 – 2 record and had already competed against elite featherweights across Bellator, PFL and RIZIN.
Shaidulloev did not get the finish he had produced throughout his career, but the decision victory arguably made an even stronger statement. He demonstrated that his wrestling and control could remain effective against an experienced champion even when he could not finish the fight early.
Kyoma Akimoto wastes no time calling for the champion
Shaidulloev’s next challenge may already be decided. After the main event, Kyoma Akimoto entered the ring and confronted the newly crowned two promotion champion. Akimoto has won six consecutive fights and most recently defeated former RIZIN featherweight champion Kleber Koike in August.
Akimoto called for a fight with Shaidulloev at RIZIN’s traditional New Year’s Eve event. Shaidulloev confirmed that he has one fight remaining on his current RIZIN deal and accepted the possibility of facing Akimoto. Japanese outlet eFight reported that the two agreed to meet at the New Year’s Eve event.
That fight would give Akimoto the opportunity to challenge for the RIZIN featherweight championship, while Shaidulloev would look to close out his current RIZIN run with another title defense.
Mikuru Asakura knocks out Shinya Aoki
The co main event delivered one of the night’s biggest finishes. Mikuru Asakura stopped Japanese MMA veteran Shinya Aoki by knockout at 2:39 of the opening round.
Aoki initially looked dangerous. The former ONE lightweight champion managed to take Asakura’s back and began working toward a rear naked choke. Asakura survived the submission attempt and escaped from an armbar attempt before turning the fight around.
Once the fight returned to striking range, Asakura landed a series of heavy punches that forced the referee to stop the contest. For Aoki, the defeat came during his long awaited return to RIZIN. The 43 year old was competing in the promotion more than a decade after his previous RIZIN appearance and had spoken about wanting meaningful fights during the later stages of his career.
Hiramoto survives Dautbek in controversial decision
Ren Hiramoto also secured an important victory, defeating Karshyga Dautbek by split decision. Dautbek entered the fight riding a 12 fight unbeaten streak and produced some of the strongest moments of the opening round, including rocking Hiramoto with his striking.
Hiramoto recovered and made the fight increasingly competitive in the second and third rounds. Two judges ultimately scored the fight 29 – 28 for Hiramoto, while the third judge gave Dautbek a 29 – 27 score. The result gives Hiramoto another significant win at featherweight, although Dautbek’s strong start made it one of the closer decisions on the card.
Roberto Satoshi wins despite shoulder injury
Former RIZIN lightweight champion Roberto Satoshi Souza defeated Shunta Nomura by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 29 – 28. Satoshi relied heavily on his grappling and spent long periods controlling Nomura from the top and attacking from dominant positions. After the fight, Satoshi revealed that he had dislocated his shoulder during the opening round.
Despite the injury, he continued for the remaining rounds and secured the decision. The victory also led Satoshi to call for another title opportunity on RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve card. He already holds a remarkably quick 21 second knockout over current RIZIN lightweight champion Luiz Gustavo.
Saito and Karamov add decision wins
Yutaka Saito returned to the winner’s column with a unanimous decision victory over Ren “YA-MAN” Sugiyama. All three judges scored the fight 30 – 27 for Saito. Vugar Karamov also earned a clear decision victory, defeating Ryo Takagi 30 – 27, 30 – 27 and 29 – 28. Both fights went the full three rounds, adding two more decision victories to a card that featured several contrasting styles.
Natalia Kuziutina submits RENA
Natalia Kuziutina produced the night’s second submission victory, catching RENA with a guillotine choke at 3:14 of the second round. The fight was contested at a 108 pound catchweight and gave Kuziutina a notable submission win on one of RIZIN’s biggest cards of the year. The opening bout also produced a decision victory, with Hide Meison Usami defeating Noah “Black Panther” Bey by unanimous decision in their open finger glove kickboxing bout. All three judges scored it 30 – 25.
Shaidulloev leaves Osaka with two belts
Super RIZIN 5 ultimately belonged to Shaidulloev. He entered the event as RIZIN’s undefeated featherweight champion and left Osaka holding two major championship belts after becoming the first fighter to simultaneously hold the RIZIN and PFL featherweight titles.
His victory over McKee also answered one of the biggest questions surrounding his career. For the first time, Shaidulloev had to fight beyond the early rounds and win without a finish.
He did exactly that. And with Akimoto already waiting for him at the end of the year, the next chapter of Shaidulloev’s RIZIN career could already have its biggest fight lined up.
Super RIZIN 5 Full Results
• Rajabali Shaidulloev vs. AJ McKee: Shaidulloev won by unanimous decision, 30 – 27, 30 – 27, 30 – 27
• Mikuru Asakura vs. Shinya Aoki: Asakura won by KO, punches, Round 1, 2:39
• Ren Hiramoto vs. Karshyga Dautbek: Hiramoto won by split decision, 29 – 28, 29 – 28, 27 – 29
• Roberto Satoshi Souza vs. Shunta Nomura: Satoshi won by unanimous decision, 29 – 28, 29 – 28, 29 – 28
• Yutaka Saito vs. Ren “YA-MAN” Sugiyama: Saito won by unanimous decision, 30 – 27, 30 – 27, 30 – 27
• Vugar Karamov vs. Ryo Takagi: Karamov won by unanimous decision, 30 – 27, 30 – 27, 29 – 28
• Natalia Kuziutina vs. RENA: Kuziutina won by submission, guillotine choke, Round 2, 3:14
• Hide Meison Usami vs. Noah “Black Panther” Bey: Usami won by unanimous decision, 30 – 25, 30 – 25, 30 – 25, kickboxing
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