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Mixed martial arts is set to witness a milestone that has never been seen before. RIZIN Fighting Federation and the Professional Fighters League have officially announced a historic featherweight championship bout between AJ McKee vs Razhabali Shaidulloev at SUPER RIZIN 5 on September 10 in Osaka, Japan.
For the first time, two major MMA promotions will place their world titles on the line in the same fight. The winner will walk away as both the RIZIN Featherweight Champion and the PFL Featherweight Champion, creating a unique piece of MMA history.
A groundbreaking moment for RIZIN and PFL
The AJ McKee vs Razhabali Shaidulloev bout will take place under RIZIN rules at the Kyocera Dome Osaka, with the contest scheduled for three five minute rounds at 66 kilograms.
Cross promotional fights have become more common in recent years, but championship belts from two organizations have never been contested simultaneously. While fighters have challenged champions from other promotions in the past, this matchup introduces a completely new concept with both organizations recognizing the result.
RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara described the partnership as one of the biggest moments in combat sports. He explained that both organizations have different rules and philosophies but believe working together creates an opportunity to push the sport forward in a meaningful way.
PFL CEO John Martin also praised the collaboration, saying the event fulfills his goal of bringing together elite talent from different promotions to determine who truly is the best featherweight in the world.
AJ McKee vs Razhabali Shaidulloev – Champion against champion
Shaidulloev enters the contest as one of the most dominant champions on the RIZIN roster. The unbeaten Kyrgyz star owns an impressive 18 and 0 professional record and has successfully defended his RIZIN featherweight title three times since defeating Kleber Koike to win the championship in May 2025.
His title reign has included victories over Viktor Kolesnik, Mikuru Asakura, and Yuta Kubo, establishing him as one of the top featherweights outside the UFC.
Standing across from him will be AJ McKee, one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation. The American owns a professional record of 25 wins and two losses and previously captured Bellator featherweight gold before continuing his career under the PFL banner.
McKee comes into the fight riding a three fight winning streak. His most recent appearance saw him earn a comfortable unanimous decision victory over Salamat Isbulaev, keeping his momentum intact ahead of the biggest opportunity of his career.
More than championship belts
The significance of AJ McKee vs Razhabali Shaidulloev fight extends beyond the titles themselves. The winner will become the first fighter to simultaneously represent both RIZIN and the PFL as reigning featherweight champion.
Former champion Kyoji Horiguchi previously held championships in both Bellator and RIZIN during his career, but he neither won nor defended both titles at the same time. That makes the McKee versus Shaidulloev showdown an unprecedented achievement in the history of the sport.
The event also reflects RIZIN’s growing willingness to work with other major promotions. In recent years, the Japanese organization has collaborated with the PFL and BKFC while also helping facilitate fighter movement to the UFC through athletes such as Kai Asakura and Horiguchi.
Strong card supporting the main event
SUPER RIZIN 5 will feature several high profile contests alongside the historic championship fight.
Former RIZIN star Mikuru Asakura is scheduled to meet veteran Shinya Aoki in a lightweight super fight. Other featured bouts include Ren Hiramoto taking on Karshyga Dautbek, Yutaka Saito facing YA MAN, Vugar Karamov meeting Ryo Takagi, and Roberto Satoshi Souza battling Shunta Nomura.
RIZIN also confirmed that Chihiro Suzuki has withdrawn from the event. Fans who purchased designated Suzuki support seats will receive refund information through the promotion’s official channels, while Suzuki is expected to address his withdrawal through a recorded message during the official press conference.
A defining night for global MMA
SUPER RIZIN 5 has already secured its place in MMA history before the opening bell. The collaboration between RIZIN and the PFL represents a rare moment where two leading organizations have chosen cooperation over competition to create a fight that simply could not happen under normal circumstances.
With two championships, two respected promotions, and two elite featherweights sharing the same cage, AJ McKee vs Razhabali Shaidulloev now have the opportunity to become the first simultaneous champions in RIZIN and PFL history. Regardless of the outcome, September 10 promises to deliver one of the most significant nights the sport has seen in recent years.
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