Rajabali Shaidullaev improves to 20-0 and becomes double champ at Super Rizin 5

Rajabali Shaidullaev remained undefeated and claimed dual championship gold at Super Rizin 5, held before 48,968 fans at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan. The Kyrgyz standout defeated A.J. McKee by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) in the main event, retaining his Rizin Fighting Federation featherweight title while simultaneously capturing the Professional Fighters League championship at 145 pounds.

Shaidullaev (20–0, 8–0 Rizin) weathered an early counter one-two from McKee (25–3, 1–1 Rizin) that briefly staggered him in the opening seconds. He recovered instantly, secured a takedown, and imposed his will with short elbows and punches against the bottom rope. McKee fought back with an upkick and attempted ties, but Shaidullaev transitioned to side control, opened a cut above McKee's right eye, and controlled the remainder of the opening round from inside the American's guard. In the third round—his first three-rounder as a professional—Shaidullaev showed no decline in pace, landing clean overhand rights and takedowns. McKee briefly took his back during a scramble and secured a late takedown into half guard, but Shaidullaev's cleaner striking and control secured all three scorecards.

After his victory, Shaidullaev indicated one fight remains on his Rizin contract. Kyoma Akimoto entered the ring and formally requested a title shot, a proposal that appeared to interest both Shaidullaev and Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara. If finalized, the bout could occur on New Year's Eve.

In the lightweight co-main event, Mikuru Asakura (20–6, 1 NC; 14–5 Rizin) stopped decorated grappler Shinya Aoki (49–13, 1 NC; 1–1 Rizin) via knockout at 2:39 of round one. Aoki immediately pulled guard and threatened consecutive submission attempts—triangle choke, rear-naked choke, and armbar—but Asakura escaped each by slamming or striking his way free. When the fighters returned to their feet, Aoki jumped to his back and sank a body triangle as they fell. Asakura posted up and landed a single punch that appeared to render Aoki unconscious; follow-up strikes prompted the referee to stop the fight. The bout carried symbolic weight, echoing Aoki's Rizin debut in 2015 against Kazushi Sakuraba, marking another generational moment as youth and power prevailed over experience.

Featuring featherweights Ren Hiramoto (5–3, 5–3 Rizin) and Karshyga Dautbek (19–4, 1 NC; 5–2, 1 NC Rizin), the main card opener ended in a contentious split decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–27 Dautbek). Dautbek controlled the first round with top position and powerful hooks after an early takedown, though Hiramoto fought back to his feet. In the second, Dautbek caught a body kick and scored again, but Hiramoto's leg kicks and improved striking confidence grew as Dautbek struggled to ground him. Dautbek finally tripped Hiramoto near the ropes in the final round and landed a suplex with ground strikes, yet two judges awarded Hiramoto the decision despite his apparent disappointment before the announcement.

One year after a postponed title fight, former lightweight champion Roberto Satoshi de Souza (21–4, 14–3 Rizin) and contender Shunta Nomura (10–3, 2–1 Rizin) finally fought. De Souza attacked with takedowns and ground strikes in round one, establishing an early advantage. The second round played out standing, with Nomura opening a cut beside de Souza's eye via lead left hook while both men exchanged leg kicks and jabs. De Souza secured back control with a body triangle in the final round and maintained it to the bell. All three judges scored the bout 29–28 for de Souza, who revealed post-fight that he had dislocated his shoulder early in the contest. If medically cleared in time, de Souza indicated interest in returning on New Year's Eve for a potential lightweight title shot.