Valentina Shevchenko is urging the UFC to sign Rizin featherweight champion Rajabali Shaidullaev. The 25-year-old fighter holds an undefeated record of 19-0 and competes at 66 kilograms (145 pounds). Shevchenko's public endorsement carries weight given her status as a former UFC champion. The post indicates support for bringing the unbeaten Rizin titleholder to the UFC roster.
Valentina Shevchenko is publicly calling on the UFC to sign Rizin featherweight champion Rajabali Shaidullaev, adding her voice to what could become a notable roster push for the unbeaten 25-year-old.
Shevchenko, who competes at women's flyweight and currently holds the UFC championship, used her platform to advocate for Shaidullaev's move to the promotion. The Kyrgyzstan-born fighter, nicknamed "Bullet," brings considerable credibility to the endorsement. Sitting at 26-4-1, the 38-year-old southpaw is one of the most decorated athletes in UFC history and a recognized authority on talent across combat sports. She trains out of Tiger Muay Thai and has built her reputation on technical precision, landing 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded profile that speaks to her eye for complete fighters.
Shaidullaev, for his part, holds an unblemished 19-0 record and currently reigns as the Rizin featherweight champion at 145 pounds. At just 25 years old, he enters the conversation as one of the more intriguing undefeated prospects outside the UFC's roster.
Why it matters
- An undefeated Rizin champion with a 19-0 record represents a significant potential addition to the UFC's featherweight division.
- Shevchenko's status as a reigning UFC champion gives her endorsement unusual public weight.
- A signing, if pursued, could elevate Shaidullaev directly into contention conversations given his unblemished record and title credentials.
