Undefeated RIZIN Champion Razhabali Shaydullaev Signs Two-Year Deal With PFL and MVP

The most coveted free agent in global combat sports is not heading to the UFC. Just hours after unifying the RIZIN and inaugural PFL featherweight titles at Super RIZIN 5 in Osaka, 25-year-old undefeated phenom Razhabali Shaydullaev has inked a two-year exclusive deal with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and the Professional Fighters League. The move secures a foundational pillar for the newly merged PFL/MVP entity and denies the industry leader a prime-age star.[1][4][5]

The Tajikistan-born standout pushed his pristine professional record to 19-0 on Thursday, September 10, 2026, by dismantling former Bellator champion A.J. McKee. Fighting inside the 55,000-capacity Kyocera Dome, Shaydullaev controlled the grappling exchanges and opened a cut over McKee's eye to secure the unanimous decision. The grueling 15-minute bout marked the first time Shaydullaev had ever heard the final bell—his previous 18 opponents all fell to early stoppages.[2][3][4]

Veteran combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani broke the news of the signing the following morning, confirming that the two-year contract officially commences in January 2027. The delay allows the dual-champion to fulfill his prior obligations in Japan. "That's a great addition to their roster," Helwani noted regarding the PFL's acquisition. "He's without question the best 145er outside the UFC."[1][2][5][6]

Historically, when a fighter clears out Japan's premier promotion, Dana White's matchmakers swoop in. Elite talents like Jiri Prochazka, Manel Kape, and Kyoji Horiguchi all traded their RIZIN gold for lucrative UFC contracts once their international profiles peaked. Shaydullaev bucking that established pipeline signals a genuine shift in the MMA arms race, proving the PFL has the capital and the platform to outbid the Las Vegas giant for top-tier international prospects.[1][5][6]

The acquisition is particularly vital for the PFL's 145-pound division, which absorbed Bellator's roster earlier this year but still needed a fresh, dominant face to build around. By defeating McKee—one of Bellator's most recognizable homegrown stars—Shaydullaev immediately legitimized himself to the North American audience. He now holds belts for both promotions simultaneously, a rare feat in modern mixed martial arts.[2][4]

Before he officially relocates to the PFL SmartCage, Shaydullaev owes RIZIN one final curtain call. He is scheduled to defend his Japanese strap against 20-year-old rising prospect Kyoma Akimoto on December 31, 2026. That bout will take place at the Vantelin Dome in Nagoya, serving as the traditional New Year's Eve centerpiece that RIZIN relies on for its massive domestic television ratings.[1][3][5]

Assuming he clears that New Year's Eve hurdle unscathed, Shaydullaev will enter the 2027 PFL regular season as the immediate betting favorite to win the $1 million tournament prize. The 145-pound bracket will be forced to contend with a 25-year-old grappler who has already proven he can drown elite competition on the stadium stage.[2][3]

The signing also validates Jake Paul's MVP banner as a legitimate player in the MMA space. While MVP has successfully promoted massive boxing spectacles, Shaydullaev represents their first major mixed martial arts roster acquisition since merging operations with the PFL. Securing a 19-0 champion in his athletic prime changes the calculus for every other free agent currently weighing their options.[4][5][6]

The deciding factor for future free agents will be watching how the PFL handles Shaydullaev's stateside debut. If the promotion can convert his dominant grappling style and regional stardom into North American pay-per-view buys, the UFC's monopoly on elite talent will face its most serious structural threat in a decade.[5][6]

The next verifiable checkpoint arrives on December 31. If Shaydullaev dispatches Akimoto with the same ferocity he unleashed on his first 18 opponents, the PFL will enter 2027 holding the contract of the most dangerous 145-pound fighter not currently wearing UFC gold.[2][3]