McKee vs. Isbulaev Set to Headline PFL San Diego

Overview

• The main event of PFL San Diego on Saturday pairs former Bellator champion AJ McKee against undefeated 10-0 Salamat Isbulaev in a confirmed headlining bout.
• McKee has framed the fight as a homecoming in San Diego and says he will push a high pace to force Isbulaev into the second or third round.
• Isbulaev arrives as a rising Russian-Kazakh prospect noted for wrestling and jiu-jitsu and for a PFL win over Jesus Pinedo.
• PFL CEO John Martin has suggested the matchup could function as a title eliminator, giving the winner a faster path toward the promotion’s vacant featherweight title.
• The bout reshapes the PFL featherweight picture by matching an experienced contender against a fast-rising prospect and could affect contender order above AJ McKee and peers such as Timur Khizriev.