Overview
- PFL CEO John Martin confirmed on Monday that AJ McKee will meet RIZIN featherweight champion Razhabali Shaydullaev on Sept. 10 at Super RIZIN 5 with Shaydullaev’s RIZIN title and the vacant PFL 145-pound belt both on the line.
- The bout will determine a single fighter who represents both promotions by holding and defending both featherweight titles for PFL and RIZIN.
- McKee is a former Bellator featherweight champion who has won his last three fights while Shaydullaev arrives undefeated with multiple first-round finishes and three RIZIN title defenses, with outlets differing on his pro record (reported as 18-0 and 19-0).
- The fight is booked as the main event at Kyocera Dome Osaka and Super RIZIN 5 also features domestic matchups such as Roberto Satoshi vs. Shunta Nomura and Mikuru Asakura vs. Shinya Aoki.
- The matchup furthers a recent trend of cross-promotion cooperation in Japan and could change title-defense logistics if the winner must manage belts and obligations across two organizations.