Former UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko has called on the UFC to sign Rizin featherweight champion Rajabali Shaidullaev. Shaidullaev is 25 years old and holds an undefeated professional record of 19-0, competing at 66 kilograms (approximately 145 pounds). The post expresses support for Shevchenko's suggestion that the UFC should recruit the young champion. Shaidullaev's perfect record and championship status in a major Asian promotion make him an attractive prospect. No indication was given whether the UFC has shown interest in signing Shaidullaev or if negotiations are underway.
Valentina Shevchenko has publicly called on the UFC to sign Rizin featherweight champion Rajabali Shaidullaev, urging the promotion to bring the undefeated 25-year-old into its fold.
Shevchenko, the reigning UFC women's flyweight champion, carries significant weight when she speaks about talent worth signing. The 38-year-old from Kyrgyzstan holds a professional record of 26-4-1 and has long been regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport. Fighting out of Tiger Muay Thai, the southpaw champion lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and adds 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, making her as dangerous on the mat as she is on the feet. Her endorsement of a prospect carries the credibility of a long-reigning champion who understands elite-level competition.
Shaidullaev, meanwhile, has put together a perfect 19-0 professional record while competing at 66 kilograms — the featherweight limit — and currently holds the Rizin featherweight championship. At just 25 years old, he represents exactly the kind of unbeaten champion from a major Asian promotion that tends to attract UFC attention.
Why it matters
- An undefeated record of 19-0 combined with a major championship title makes Shaidullaev one of the more compelling unsigned prospects in the 145-pound division.
- A public push from a fighter of Shevchenko's stature raises the prospect's profile considerably within UFC circles.
- There is currently no indication that the UFC has responded to the suggestion or that any negotiations are underway.
Whether the promotion acts on Shevchenko's recommendation remains to be seen, but her public support ensures Shaidullaev's name is now firmly part of the conversation at the highest level of the sport.
