Former UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is advocating for the promotion to sign Rizin bantamweight champion Radzhabali Shaidullaev. The 25-year-old Dagestani fighter holds a perfect 19-0 professional record and currently competes at 66 kilograms in Rizin. Shevchenko's endorsement carries significant weight given her status as one of the sport's elite fighters. The post indicates support for bringing the undefeated prospect to the UFC. No indication has been given whether the UFC is actively pursuing Shaidullaev at this time.
Valentina Shevchenko, the reigning UFC women's flyweight champion, has publicly called on the UFC to sign Rizin bantamweight champion Radzhabali Shaidullaev, throwing her considerable influence behind the undefeated prospect.
Shevchenko, nicknamed "Bullet," brings rare credibility to any endorsement she offers. The 38-year-old Kyrgyzstan native holds a professional record of 26-4-1 and is widely regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport. Operating out of Tiger Muay Thai in a southpaw stance, she stands 165 cm tall with a 168 cm reach and lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent striking accuracy rate. She also averages 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, reflecting the well-rounded game that has defined her long reign at flyweight.
Shaidullaev, 25, is a Dagestani fighter who carries a perfect 19-0 professional record into any potential negotiation. He currently competes at 66 kilograms under the Rizin banner, where he holds the bantamweight championship. His undefeated mark and title status in one of the world's most prominent non-UFC promotions have drawn attention to him as a legitimate prospect worth pursuing at the highest level.
Why it matters
- An endorsement from a dominant UFC champion draws mainstream attention to fighters outside the promotion and can accelerate front-office interest.
- Shaidullaev's 19-0 record and Rizin title suggest he is ready for elite competition rather than developmental matchups.
- At 66 kilograms, he would slot into the UFC's bantamweight or potentially featherweight division, both of which carry deep and competitive rosters.
Whether the UFC is actively in discussions with Shaidullaev or his management has not been confirmed, and no official steps toward signing him have been reported at this time.
