PFL San Diego Weigh-Ins OFFICIAL: McKee vs. Isbulaev Set to Explode in Featherweight Title Eliminator Showdown

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The scale has been tipped, the fighters are locked in, and San Diego is about to witness one of the most compelling featherweight matchups of 2025 — AJ McKee and Salamat Isbulaev both made weight without a hitch, and tonight, the PFL featherweight division gets its defining moment.

All fighters on the PFL San Diego Presented by GOVX card successfully completed weigh-ins ahead of tonight’s event at Pechanga Arena San Diego. The main card airs live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, with the early card kicking off at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on the ESPN App.

The PFL San Diego fight card is officially set following successful weigh-ins.
The PFL San Diego fight card is officially set following successful weigh-ins.

The Main Event: McKee’s Legacy vs. Isbulaev’s Perfect Record

Long Beach’s own No. 2-ranked AJ “Mercenary” McKee (24-2) stepped on the scale at 145.6 lbs, ready to remind the featherweight world exactly why he belongs at the top. Standing across from him tonight is the quietly dangerous No. 4-ranked Salamat Isbulaev (10-0), who checked in at 145.8 lbs and arrives in San Diego with an unblemished professional record and nothing to lose.

This is more than a ranked matchup — it’s a featherweight title eliminator in everything but name. McKee, a former PFL and Bellator champion, has the pedigree and the power to finish fights on any given night. Isbulaev, however, has never been beaten, and that zero next to his record isn’t an accident. If McKee wants a clear path back to championship gold, he has to go through the most dangerous undefeated fighter in the division first.

Co-Main Event and Full Card: Stacked From Top to Bottom

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The action doesn’t stop at the main event. In the women’s flyweight co-main event, No. 2-ranked Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche (25-8) weighed in at 126 lbs and faces No. 8-ranked Viviane “Vivi” Araújo (125.8 lbs) in a bout that could reshape the top of the flyweight rankings overnight. Carmouche, a veteran of the sport and one of MMA’s most durable competitors, takes on the Brazilian Araújo in what promises to be a high-stakes, fan-friendly war.

The lightweight main card bout features No. 4-ranked Alexander Shabliy (155.8 lbs) against No. 2-ranked Alfie Davis (156 lbs), while the light heavyweight slot brings Abraham Bably (205.6 lbs) up against No. 6-ranked Rob Wilkinson (205.8 lbs). On the preliminary card, ranked flyweights No. 7 Ariane Lipski and No. 5 Jena Bishop collide in what could be an under-the-radar fight of the night, while a catchweight bout between Justin Wetzell and No. 8-ranked Sarvarjon Khamidov carries an asterisk after Khamidov missed weight at 137.6 lbs.

Tickets for PFL San Diego are still available via Ticketmaster. More information can be found at pfl.info/sandiego. PFL’s busy summer schedule continues with stops in Austin (July 18), Washington, D.C. (July 25), New York (July 31), Charlotte (August 7), and Tampa (August 22).

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