PFL featherweight champion AJ McKee will face Rizin featherweight champion Razhabali Shaydullaev at an upcoming PFL-Rizin crossover event in Japan. The champion-vs-champion bout is scheduled for next week.
Reports surfaced on September 1st suggesting that PFL featherweight champion AJ McKee is set to clash with Rizin featherweight champion Razhabali Shaydullaev at an upcoming PFL-Rizin crossover event in Japan, though the matchup has not been officially confirmed and should be treated as unverified for now.
McKee, known as "Mercenary," carries a perfect 8-0-0 professional record and holds the PFL featherweight title. The 178-centimeter fighter has built his unbeaten run on a well-rounded game that leans heavily on grappling, averaging an impressive 11.01 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 11 submission attempts per 15 minutes — numbers that mark him as one of the more dangerous grapplers in the featherweight division. He also contributes on the feet, landing 2.75 significant strikes per minute.
Information on Shaydullaev from the AgentMMA database is limited in this report, but the summary identifies him as the reigning Rizin featherweight champion, making this a genuine title-versus-title collision between two organizations.
Why it matters
- A champion-vs-champion bout between PFL and Rizin would be a rare cross-promotional superfight at featherweight.
- McKee's elite grappling output would test a champion whose organizational background traditionally features strong striking competitors.
- The Japanese setting adds significant regional prestige, with Rizin holding deep roots in that market.
- Any rankings or title implications across both promotions remain to be clarified if the bout is formally announced.
