Valentina Shevchenko has publicly urged the UFC to sign Radjabali Shaidullaev, the current Rizin featherweight champion. The 25-year-old fighter holds an undefeated record of 19-0. Shaidullaev competes at 66 kilograms (approximately 145 pounds) in Rizin. Shevchenko's endorsement could draw attention to the prospect from the Japanese promotion. The post indicates support for bringing the undefeated champion to the UFC roster.
Valentina Shevchenko has publicly called on the UFC to sign Radjabali Shaidullaev, the reigning Rizin featherweight champion, in a post that drew widespread attention on April 13, 2026.
Shevchenko, 38, is one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history. The Kyrgyzstan-born southpaw holds a 26-4-1 professional record and currently reigns as the UFC Women's Flyweight Champion, competing out of Tiger Muay Thai. Standing five-foot-five with a 66-inch reach, she is a technically complete fighter who lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and also contributes on the ground with 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Shaidullaev, 25, is unbeaten at 19-0 and holds the featherweight title in Rizin, the prominent Japanese promotion where he competes at 66 kilograms, the equivalent of 145 pounds. No verified UFC record or ranking exists for the prospect at this stage.
Why it matters
- A public endorsement from a reigning UFC champion carries genuine promotional weight and can accelerate front-office attention toward a prospect.
- Shaidullaev's undefeated 19-0 record and Rizin title give him credible credentials should UFC negotiations ever begin.
- The call highlights the ongoing pipeline between major Asian promotions and the UFC roster, a path several fighters have traveled in recent years.
