McKee dominates Isbulaev in PFL San Diego to demand featherweight title shot

A.J. McKee made his case for a PFL featherweight title shot with a dominant unanimous decision over Salamat Isbulaev in the main event of PFL San Diego, with all three judges scoring the bout 30-27 in his favour.

McKee, widely regarded as one of the top featherweights in the world, imposed a suffocating grappling game from the opening bell, repeatedly dragging Isbulaev to the canvas and threatening with submissions throughout. He came closest to a finish in the third round, raining down elbows from mount as time expired, but the scorecards were never in doubt.

“You call a mercenary when you need something done,” McKee said after the final horn. “Isbulaev is a beast. I underestimated him. But mercenary style, I’ve got to get him out of there. I want the title. That was the point of the return to the 145-pound division.”

The fight was competitive on the feet early, with Isbulaev swinging aggressively and landing enough to keep McKee honest. A hard shot in the third round opened a cut above McKee’s eye, briefly giving the challenger hope. But McKee responded with body kicks and head strikes before securing another takedown with just over 90 seconds left, locking in an arm-triangle choke that Isbulaev barely survived before McKee transitioned to mount for the closing flurry.

The first round set the tone. McKee scored a quick double-leg takedown inside the final two minutes, immediately working to take the back. Isbulaev reversed to land on top, but a scramble allowed McKee to break free and land another hard left hand before a second takedown just before the horn.

In the second, a slip put McKee briefly in danger with Isbulaev attempting a guillotine — one that nearly gave the former Bellator champion an opportunity for a Von Flue choke counter. McKee escaped, pressed forward, and ended the round hammering elbows from side control.

The victory extends McKee’s current winning streak to three since his return to the featherweight division, and he will now wait to see whether the PFL responds to his title demand.