A.J. McKee Sweeps Salamat Isbulaev 30-27 in PFL San Diego, Handing Him 1st Loss

Q: Has A.J. McKee earned a title shot, or did his win against an undefeated newcomer just expose PFL's shallow talent pool?

A.J. McKee has earned a title shot more than he exposed a weak division. The case is strong on merit. McKee is a former Bellator featherweight champion, now 25-2, and he just delivered a one-sided 30-27 sweep against Salamat Isbulaev, handing him his first loss. This was not a shaky win over an untested opponent. Isbulaev entered 10-0, with a 29-3 amateur background, and had just knocked out former PFL champion Jesus Pinedo in the first round. McKee beat him everywhere — striking, grappling, pace, and late damage — which is exactly what a top contender is supposed to do. The broader context also favors McKee. He has now put together three straight wins at featherweight, including victories over Adam Borics and Isbulaev, both credible names in the division. With the 145-pound title vacant while Timur Khizriev recovers from injuries, PFL needs a clear, bankable contender. McKee has the résumé, momentum, and name value. That does not mean the question about depth is baseless. PFL is still integrating Bellator talent and remains thinner than UFC in several divisions. But this result alone is weak evidence of a shallow pool. Isbulaev was viewed as a legitimate threat, not a showcase opponent, and McKee himself described the matchup as high risk with limited reward. The cleaner reading is that McKee reminded everyone he is elite at 145 pounds. If PFL does not give him the next title fight, it would be harder to justify than his claim to it.

Q: With PFL and UFC now clashing on the same night, is the MMA world actually big enough for two major promotions?

Yes, but not as equals, and not yet on equal footing. PFL San Diego showed there is real depth outside the UFC. A.J. McKee remains a recognizable elite name, Liz Carmouche adds veteran credibility, and the card had competitive results and regional appeal. PFL also has meaningful assets: the Bellator acquisition, international leagues in Europe, MENA and Africa, and a year-round format after moving away from its original season model. That is enough to make it a legitimate No. 2 player. But the same-night clash with UFC Baku also underlined the gap. By PFL’s own leadership’s assessment, the company remains far behind the UFC in popularity, identity and distribution. UFC’s scale is much larger: a near-weekly calendar, broader mainstream recognition, and a media model designed to keep fans inside its ecosystem all year. When both run on the same night, the UFC usually has the stronger habit-driven audience. So the MMA world is big enough for two major promotions in the sense that both can exist, sign quality fighters and stage relevant events. It is not yet big enough for head-to-head competition to be neutral. In practice, simultaneous scheduling tends to expose the imbalance rather than prove parity. For PFL, the path is not to out-UFC the UFC on the same night. It is to build a clearer brand, create stars like McKee into must-watch attractions, and own specific lanes—international markets, tournament-style stakes, and divisions where it can offer something distinct.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Junkie · Jun 28

Three 30-27 scorecards gave A.J. McKee a unanimous-decision win over Salamat Isbulaev in Saturday’s PFL San Diego main event, lifting McKee to 25-2 and dropping Isbulaev to 10-1.
McKee controlled the lightweight headliner with a varied attack on the feet and on the ground, then nearly forced a late stoppage with punches and elbows before the final horn.
The result punctured the hype around the previously unbeaten Kazakh fighter and reinforced McKee’s standing as one of PFL’s top talents.
That win could also strengthen McKee’s case to fill one side of the promotion’s vacant featherweight title fight after entering the bout seeking another step toward championship contention.