AJ McKee closed out Saturday’s PFL San Diego with a vintage “Mercenary” performance.
McKee (25-2), once a Bellator featherweight champ, faced off against the previously undefeated Salamat Isbulaev, and battled through three hard-fought rounds to come away with a unanimous decision victory.
It was far from easy. A competitive scrap saw the pair both have their moments on the feet, while McKee appeared to have the advantage in several thrilling grappling exchanges. The American was sporting a cut over one eyebrow in the end, though Isbulaev was cut as well. Luckily, neither wound had any direct impact on the action, with the bout going the full 15 minutes.
Triplicate 30-27 scores outlined just how successful AJ McKee was in the bout, though Isbulaev was never fully out of it. Afterwards, McKee admitted that he had “underestimated” his opponent, referring to him as a champion.
It’s reclaiming gold that is on McKee’s mind next however, and he called for just that following the win. The PFL’s 145lb title sits vacant, and only Timur Khizriev, #1 at featherweight, sits ahead of AJ McKee.
The 31-year old was joined in the winner’s circle on Saturday by a familiar face to fight fans. Liz Carmouche also made her case for a title shot undeniable at PFL San Diego, though that’s not what the #2-ranked women’s flyweight called for at the end of the night.
Carmouche (26-8), a former Bellator flyweight champ, as well as a title challenger in both Strikeforce and the UFC, won the 2025 PFL World Tournament, and found herself paired up with fellow UFC vet Viviane Araujo at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA. The bout saw Araujo and Carmouche spend plenty of time clinched up along the fence, but in the second round, it was “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche hitting a guillotine choke and forcing the tap.
At age 42, Carmouche has looked as good as ever, with just PFL promotional darling Dakota Ditcheva perched ahead of her in the rankings. The British star skipped the World Tournament last year, and has been out with injury; she’s set to return against Denise Kielholtz later this summer.
Should she win, Ditcheva vs. Carmouche for the vacant women’s 125lb title seems like a no-brainer. Yet in the cage on Saturday, Carmouche called for something she’s desired for a long time: a shot at a second title, at bantamweight. Neither Bellator nor the PFL have featured a women’s bantamweight division, and Carmouche very much wants to lead one.