PFL and RIZIN announce dual-promotion featherweight title fight

RIZIN Fighting Federation and Professional Fighters League announced a cross-promotional featherweight title fight for SUPER RIZIN 5, with reigning RIZIN champion Razhabali Shaidulloev meeting former Bellator champion AJ McKee, MMA Mania reports. Both the RIZIN featherweight strap and the vacant PFL featherweight title will be on the line in the same bout.

The fight takes place Sept. 10 at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan under RIZIN rules — three five-minute rounds at 145.5 pounds. "We are truly delighted to join forces with PFL on an epoch-making initiative that will leave its mark on the history of combat sports worldwide," RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara said in a statement.

What the PFL-RIZIN partnership means for McKee

RIZIN and Bellator previously worked together before PFL acquired and dissolved the Bellator promotion. The new partnership marks the first time both organizations will put their featherweight titles at stake in a single fight. PFL CEO John Martin said he made it his mission to deliver the fights fans want to see and called the collaboration a unique opportunity for the MMA community.

The card also includes a lightweight clash between Mikuru Asakura and Shinya Aoki, plus featherweight bouts featuring Ren Hiramoto against Karshyga Dautbek and Yutaka Saito against YA-MAN. RIZIN confirmed that Chihiro Suzuki withdrew from the event.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — PFL teams up with RIZIN for historic dual-promotion featherweight title fight