Valentina Shevchenko publicly urged the UFC to sign Rizin champion Rajabali Shaidullaev. Shaidullaev, who is 25 years old and holds an undefeated 19-0 record, competes in the 66-kilogram weight class for Rizin. The post does not provide additional context about Shevchenko's reasoning or whether there have been any negotiations between Shaidullaev and the UFC. The channel expressed support for Shevchenko's suggestion.
Valentina Shevchenko has publicly called on the UFC to sign Rizin champion Rajabali Shaidullaev, adding her voice to what could become a notable cross-promotional recruitment story.
Shevchenko, the reigning UFC Women's Flyweight champion, carries an impressive 26-4-1 record and has long been considered one of the most technically complete fighters in mixed martial arts. The 38-year-old from Kyrgyzstan, who trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and fights out of a southpaw stance, stands five-foot-five with a 66-inch reach. She lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and also contributes on the ground, averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Shaidullaev, 25 years old and competing at 66 kilograms for Rizin, enters this conversation with a spotless 19-0 professional record. No additional context around Shevchenko's reasoning or any potential negotiations between the fighter and the UFC was provided alongside her public statement.
Why it matters
- Shaidullaev's undefeated 19-0 record and Rizin championship status make him an intriguing prospect for the UFC's talent pipeline
- An endorsement from a fighter of Shevchenko's standing carries significant weight inside the sport
- The 66-kilogram Rizin weight class does not map directly onto a UFC division, meaning any potential signing would involve a weight-class discussion
