Razhabali Shaydullaev made history at Super RIZIN 5, defeating former Bellator Featherweight World Champion AJ McKee by unanimous decision to become the RIZIN and PFL Featherweight Champion.

But while Shaydullaev left Kyocera Dome Osaka with two championship belts and a perfect 20-0 professional record, the historic night also demonstrated something important about his opponent.

AJ McKee has become a genuine international MMA star.

In front of 48,968 fans inside Kyocera Dome Osaka, McKee headlined one of the biggest events in RIZIN history against one of the most dangerous undefeated fighters in the world. The Southern California native was at the center of a championship event that brought together RIZIN and the PFL, putting both organizations’ featherweight titles on the line.

Shaydullaev ultimately earned the victory, but McKee’s presence on the biggest RIZIN stage in front of nearly 50,000 Japanese fans further established “The Mercenary” as one of the most recognizable American stars competing on the international MMA scene.

Shaydullaev Becomes RIZIN-PFL Double Champion

The Super RIZIN 5 main event delivered a historic result.

Shaydullaev improved to 20-0 with a unanimous decision over McKee, retaining his RIZIN Featherweight Championship while capturing the PFL Featherweight Championship.

All three judges scored the fight 30-27 for Shaydullaev.

The victory was particularly significant because McKee represented arguably the most accomplished opponent Shaydullaev had faced in his young career.

The Kyrgyzstan native entered the bout with a perfect 19-0 record and a remarkable finishing résumé. He had never previously been forced into a third round.

Against McKee, however, Shaydullaev entered uncharted territory.

And he passed the test.

AJ McKee Pushes Shaydullaev Into New Territory

Shaydullaev’s perfect record remains intact, but McKee made him work for it.

The former Bellator champion immediately showed why he remains one of the elite featherweights in the sport.

McKee opened the fight with a sharp counter combination that briefly knocked Shaydullaev off balance. Shaydullaev recovered quickly, however, and responded with a takedown before attacking with short punches and elbows.

McKee answered with an upkick and continued looking for opportunities.

The second round saw Shaydullaev establish more control on the ground, but McKee continued to create dangerous scrambles. At one point, McKee took Shaydullaev’s back and briefly brought the undefeated champion to the canvas.

Shaydullaev escaped and eventually regained top position, opening a cut near McKee’s right eye while controlling the remainder of the round.

Then came a moment that had never happened in Shaydullaev’s professional career.

Round three.

The undefeated champion had never previously needed to compete beyond the second round.

Against McKee, he did.

Shaydullaev continued to press forward, scoring another takedown and controlling the grappling exchanges. McKee fought back, briefly taking his opponent’s back during a scramble before the two returned to their feet.

McKee secured a late takedown, but the final bell arrived before either man could produce a finish.

The judges ultimately awarded Shaydullaev a 30-27 sweep.

Nearly 50,000 Fans Witnessed AJ McKee’s Global Star Power

The final result belonged to Shaydullaev.

The event itself, however, was a powerful statement about AJ McKee.

48,968 fans packed Kyocera Dome Osaka.

McKee wasn’t simply appearing on an international fight card.

He was the American challenger at the center of a massive Japanese MMA event, competing for two world championships against an undefeated local-promotion champion.

That kind of stage requires star power.

McKee has developed that star power through years of championship-level competition.

The 31-year-old has already held Bellator’s featherweight championship, competed in some of the biggest fights in Bellator history and established himself as one of the most versatile fighters of his generation.

His move into RIZIN expanded that audience internationally.

Super RIZIN 5 demonstrated that McKee can headline a massive event in Japan and stand across the ring from an undefeated champion without being overshadowed by the magnitude of the occasion.

Even in defeat, McKee’s stock remains extremely high.

Shaydullaev’s Rise Continues

There is no taking anything away from what Shaydullaev accomplished.

The 25-year-old Kyrgyzstan standout is now 20-0, 8-0 under the RIZIN banner, and owns championship victories over some of the most respected featherweights to compete in the organization.

His performance against McKee may have been his most important victory yet.

Shaydullaev showed that he could overcome early adversity, handle a former world champion’s speed and athleticism, and compete effectively into the third round.

After the fight, Shaydullaev addressed the Japanese crowd and indicated that he has one bout remaining on his current RIZIN contract.

Kyoma Akimoto then entered the ring and requested the opportunity to challenge Shaydullaev for the championship, potentially setting up a New Year’s Eve title fight. RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara appeared receptive to the idea.

The next chapter of Shaydullaev’s career could therefore be just as significant.

Mikuru Asakura Knocks Out Shinya Aoki

The Super RIZIN 5 co-main event provided one of the night’s most memorable moments.

Japanese superstar Mikuru Asakura defeated legendary grappler Shinya Aoki by first-round knockout.

Aoki immediately attempted to take the fight into his world, pulling guard and threatening with a triangle before transitioning to a back position.

The veteran later attacked with a rear-naked choke and armbar.

Asakura survived.

When the fight returned to a striking exchange, Asakura landed a powerful punch that appeared to render Aoki unconscious. The referee stopped the fight at 2:39 of the first round.

The matchup carried the feeling of a symbolic passing of the torch in Japanese MMA.

Aoki remains one of the country’s most accomplished fighters, while Asakura’s victory represented a new generation taking center stage.

Ren Hiramoto Defeats Karshyga Dautbek

The main card opened with a highly competitive featherweight contest between Ren Hiramoto and Karshyga Dautbek.

Dautbek established early success with takedowns and ground strikes while also landing dangerous left hands.

Hiramoto adjusted as the fight progressed, attacking the lead leg and improving his takedown defense.

Dautbek continued to find success in the final round, including a late suplex and ground strikes.

The fight went to the judges, producing a controversial split decision.

Two judges scored it 29-28 for Hiramoto, while the third gave Dautbek a 29-27 score.

Hiramoto therefore earned the split decision.

Roberto Satoshi Survives Shunta Nomura

Former RIZIN lightweight champion Roberto “Satoshi” de Souza returned to the winner’s circle with a unanimous decision over Shunta Nomura.

Satoshi repeatedly looked for takedowns and eventually established back control in the third round.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for de Souza.

After the victory, Satoshi revealed that he had suffered a dislocated shoulder early in the contest.

Despite the injury, the former champion completed the fight and positioned himself for another potential title opportunity.

Yutaka Saito Controls Ren “Ya-Man” Sugiyama

Former RIZIN featherweight champion Yutaka Saito spoiled the return of Ren “Ya-Man” Sugiyama.

Saito repeatedly took the fight to the ground and used positional control throughout the three rounds.

Sugiyama survived multiple submission attempts, including rear-naked choke attacks, but was unable to stop Saito’s grappling.

The judges awarded Saito a unanimous 30-27 decision.

Vugar Karamov Returns to the Win Column

Former RIZIN featherweight champion Vugar Karamov earned a unanimous decision over Ryo Takagi.

Karamov repeatedly secured takedowns and threatened with multiple submissions, including an arm-triangle, rear-naked choke and guillotine.

The judges scored the contest 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 for Karamov.

Natalia Kuziutina Submits RENA

Natalia Kuziutina moved closer to a potential women’s super atomweight title opportunity by defeating Japanese star RENA Kubota.

Kuziutina attacked RENA’s lead leg early and repeatedly used knees and grappling to control the fight.

In the second round, Kuziutina secured a one-arm guillotine and finished the fight by submission at 3:14.

The victory improved Kuziutina’s RIZIN record to 2-0.

Hide Meison Usami Wins Kickboxing Opener

The event opened with a special lightweight kickboxing bout contested with open-finger gloves.

Hide Meison Usami defeated Noah “Black Panther” Bey by unanimous decision.

Usami scored two knockdowns in the final round, earning scores of 30-25 from all three judges.

Super RIZIN 5 Results

Razhabali Shaydullaev def. AJ McKee — unanimous decision, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27
RIZIN & PFL Featherweight Championship

Mikuru Asakura def. Shinya Aoki — TKO, Round 1, 2:39

Ren Hiramoto def. Karshyga Dautbek — split decision

Roberto Satoshi de Souza def. Shunta Nomura — unanimous decision, 29-28

Yutaka Saito def. Ren “Ya-Man” Sugiyama — unanimous decision, 30-27

Vugar Karamov def. Ryo Takagi — unanimous decision

Natalia Kuziutina def. RENA Kubota — submission, Round 2, 3:14

Hide Meison Usami def. Noah Bey — unanimous decision, 30-25

A New Champion—and a Bigger Stage for AJ McKee

Super RIZIN 5 will ultimately be remembered as the night Razhabali Shaydullaev became a 20-0 double champion.

That achievement deserves the spotlight.

But the event also marked another important moment in the career of AJ McKee.

Nearly 49,000 Japanese fans filled Kyocera Dome Osaka to watch a champion-vs.-champion fight featuring McKee as one half of the main event.

He fought an undefeated champion, survived three rounds against a fighter who had never previously seen the third, created dangerous moments of his own and demonstrated once again why he belongs among the elite names in international MMA.

Shaydullaev leaves Japan with two belts.

AJ McKee leaves with something that cannot be measured by a scorecard: an even larger international platform and another massive chapter in his career as “The Mercenary.”

For Shaydullaev, the perfect record continues.

For RIZIN, the partnership with PFL has produced a historic double champion.

And for AJ McKee, Super RIZIN 5 proved that his star power reaches far beyond American MMA.

48,968 fans saw it firsthand in Osaka.

The next chapter for all three—Shaydullaev, McKee and the RIZIN-PFL partnership—could be even bigger.