Former UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has publicly advocated for the promotion to sign Rizin champion Razhabali Shaidullaev. The 25-year-old fighter currently holds the Rizin title in the 66kg division and carries an undefeated 19-0 record. Shevchenko's endorsement could carry weight given her status as one of the sport's most respected champions. The post indicates support for bringing the undefeated prospect to the UFC roster. No response from the UFC or Shaidullaev regarding potential contract negotiations has been reported.
Valentina Shevchenko has gone public with a call for the UFC to add Rizin champion Razhabali Shaidullaev to its roster, using her platform to advocate for the undefeated prospect.
Shevchenko, 38, is widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history. The Kyrgyzstan-born southpaw, who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai, holds a professional record of 26-4-1 and is the reigning UFC women's flyweight champion. Her credentials give the endorsement considerable weight — she lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate and adds a consistent takedown threat at 2.62 per 15 minutes, illustrating the complete skill set that has defined her reign at the top of the division.
Shaidullaev, 25, currently holds the Rizin title at 66 kilograms and carries a perfect 19-0 record. No details about contract discussions between the UFC and Shaidullaev have been reported, and no response from the promotion or the fighter has emerged at this stage.
Why it matters
- Shaidullaev's undefeated 19-0 record and Rizin title make him one of the more compelling unsigned prospects in the weight class
- An endorsement from a reigning UFC champion draws rare public attention to a fighter outside the promotion's current roster
- If signed, Shaidullaev would enter a competitive 66 kg landscape that maps to the UFC's welterweight division
- The UFC has not acknowledged the call, leaving any potential move firmly in the speculative stage
