Valentina Shevchenko calls for UFC to sign Rizin champion Radzhabali Shaidullaev

Valentina Shevchenko has publicly called on the UFC to sign Radzhabali Shaidullaev, the reigning Rizin 66-kilogram champion, putting her considerable influence behind the unbeaten prospect as of April 13, 2026.

Shevchenko, 38, is widely regarded as one of the most decorated fighters in women's mixed martial arts history. The Kyrgyzstan-born southpaw, who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai, currently holds the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship and carries a record of 26-4-1. Standing five-foot-five with a 66-inch reach, she has built her reputation on a relentless striking game, averaging 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, while also posing a consistent grappling threat with 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes. That combination of accomplishments gives her endorsement of outside talent a credibility few active fighters can match.

Shaidullaev, 25, is undefeated at 19-0 and currently holds gold under the Rizin banner at 66 kilograms. Beyond those verified figures, details about his fighting style and career statistics were not part of Shevchenko's public remarks.

Why it matters

• Shevchenko's champion status lends rare visibility to a call for a prospect from a rival promotion
• Shaidullaev's 19-0 record and Rizin title suggest he has exhausted much of what that organization can offer him at 25 years old
• A potential UFC signing would continue the broader pattern of talent migration from Asian and European promotions into the world's top MMA organization
• The 66-kilogram Rizin weight class does not map directly onto a standard UFC division, meaning any signing would involve a weight class adjustment