Razhabali Shaidulloev signs two-year deal with MVP starting in 2027
MMA Fighting • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 10, 2026, 8:00 PM
Last updated Sep 10, 2026

Featherweight fighter Razhabali Shaidulloev has signed a two-year contract with MVP beginning in 2027. The agreement follows the announcement of a merger between MVP and the PFL. Shaidulloev enters the roster as the first athlete signed under the new organizational structure. On Thursday, the 25-year-old defeated A.J. McKee by unanimous decision at Super RIZIN 5 in Osaka, Japan, to capture the vacant PFL title while defending his existing RIZIN belt. Shaidulloev maintains an undefeated 19-0 career record with 18 stoppages. Before transitioning to MVP, Shaidulloev is scheduled to defend his RIZIN championship against Kyoma Akimoto on the New Year’s Eve event, which will serve as the final match of his current agreement with the Japanese promotion.
- •Razhabali Shaidulloev signed a two-year deal to join MVP in 2027.
- •Shaidulloev holds a 19-0 professional record with 18 stoppages.
- •He defeated A.J. McKee by unanimous decision at Super RIZIN 5.
- •The fighter will face Kyoma Akimoto on New Year's Eve to defend his RIZIN belt.
- •This is the first talent signing since the merger of MVP and the PFL.
- 8:00 PMMMA Fighting — MVP inks deal with RIZIN, PFL champion Razhabali Shaidulloev
"Featherweight phenom Razhabali Shaidulloev will be a MVP MMA fighter in 2027. Shaidulloev defended his RIZIN belt and captured the vacant PFL title with a unanimous decision victory over A.J. McKee in the main event of Thursday’s Super RIZIN 5 in Osaka, Japan, and already has a deal in place to join the MVP roster in 2027. MMA Fighting has confirmed the sources following a report from Ariel Helwani. MVP has merged with PFL and will move forward under the MVP name in 2027, and Shaidulloev is the first talent to sign with MVP since the deal was made. Shaidulloev agreed to a two-year deal with MVP. Shaidulloev, 25, holds a perfect 19-0 record in the sport with 18 stoppages, going the distance for the first time in his career Thursday to beat McKee. The Tajikistani featherweight is 8-0 under the RIZIN banner, an impressive run that includes stoppages over the likes of Kleber Koike, Juan Archuleta and Mikuru Asakura. Shaidulloev will enter the RIZIN ring one last time before moving to MVP, though, competing on the final bout of his current deal with the Japanese promotion to defend his belt versus Kyoma Akimoto on the New Year’s Eve event. Akimoto earned a shot at the belt after beating ex-champion Koike via decision this past August.
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