RIZIN and PFL Announce Historic Cross-Promotional Championship Fight
The promotions will feature both featherweight titles on the line as Razhabali Shaidulloev takes on A.J. McKee at SUPER RIZIN 5.
RIZIN and PFL have announced a historic cross-promotional championship fight for SUPER RIZIN 5. RIZIN featherweight champion Razhabali Shaidulloev will defend his belt against former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee, with the vacant PFL featherweight title also on the line. The event is scheduled to take place Sept. 10 in Osaka, Japan.
Two Belts on the Line at Super RIZIN 5
The matchup brings together two of the biggest featherweight names outside the UFC. At just 25 years old, Shaidulloev has already compiled a perfect 19-0 professional record. Since capturing the RIZIN featherweight title by knocking out Kleber Koike Erbst in May 2025, the Kyrgyz fighter has defended the belt three times, finishing each of those victories by first-round TKO.
As for McKee, the American spent most of his career in Bellator, where he won the Featherweight World Grand Prix to become champion. Following a brief run at lightweight, McKee returned to featherweight in July 2025 and enters the bout riding a three-fight winning streak.
Super RIZIN 5: First Major Collaboration Since Bellator Acquisition
Before Bellator was acquired by PFL, the promotion maintained a close relationship with RIZIN through events such as Bellator x RIZIN, first held on the final day of 2022. The partnership also included fighter exchanges, with names like Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal competing under the RIZIN banner.
Following Bellator's acquisition and the integration of its roster into PFL, that collaboration was placed on hold. The announcement of Shaidulloev vs. McKee now marks the most significant joint project between RIZIN and PFL since the merger, bringing together championships from both organizations in a single bout.
Regardless of what comes next for the relationship between the promotions, the matchup offers fans a rare opportunity to see two of the top featherweights outside the UFC compete with titles from two organizations at stake.
