PFL San Diego salary breakdown: Main event loser Isbulaev earned just $10,000

Salamat Isbulaev walked into the main event of PFL San Diego on Saturday and walked out with just $10,000 after losing to A.J. McKee via unanimous decision — a stark pay disparity that highlights the wide salary gaps still present in MMA outside the UFC.

The figures were disclosed by the California State Athletic Commission and show McKee earning a flat $100,000 guaranteed with no win bonus attached to his performance. Isbulaev, by contrast, had a $10,000 show purse and a $10,000 win bonus on the table — and left with only the former.

McKee has been a fixture on the PFL roster since the promotion acquired Bellator, where he was a former champion. His payday reflects that standing, even if the structure of his contract left no upside for a victory.

In the co-main event, Liz Carmouche delivered the card’s most lucrative night, banking $50,000 to show and collecting an additional $50,000 win bonus for a total of $100,000. Her opponent, former UFC fighter Viviane Araujo, earned $20,000 in the losing effort.

Alexander Shabliy and Rob Wilkinson were among the other winners to double their purses, each collecting $50,000 and $40,000 respectively after securing victories. At the other end of the scale, Shannon Clark earned $6,000 — the smallest total payout of any fighter on the card — despite picking up a win.

Here are the full disclosed salaries for PFL San Diego:

A.J. McKee: $100,000 (no win bonus)

Salamat Isbulaev: $10,000 to show / $10,000 to win — $10,000 — LOST

Liz Carmouche: $50,000 to show / $50,000 to win — $100,000 — WIN

Viviane Araujo: $20,000 to show / $20,000 to win — $20,000 — LOST

Alexander Shabliy: $25,000 to show / $25,000 to win — $50,000 — WIN

Alfie Davis: $20,000 to show / $20,000 to win — $20,000 — LOST

Abraham Bably: $10,000 to show / $10,000 to win — $20,000 — LOST

Rob Wilkinson: $20,000 to show / $20,000 to win — $40,000 — WIN

Khasan Magomedsharipov: $20,000 to show / $20,000 to win — $40,000 — WIN

Joshua Weems: $10,000 to show / $10,000 to win — $10,000 — LOST

Ariane Da Silva: $13,000 to show / $13,000 to win — $13,000 — LOST

Jena Bishop: $20,000 to show / $20,000 to win — $40,000 — WIN

Justin Wetzell: $10,000 to show / $10,000 to win — $10,000 — LOST

Sarvardzhon Hamidov: $20,000 to show / $20,000 to win — $40,000 — WIN

Shannon Clark: $3,000 to show / $3,000 to win — $6,000 — WIN

Ilara Joanne: $10,000 to show / $10,000 to win — $10,000 — LOST

Cobey Fehr: $5,000 to show / $5,000 to win — $10,000 — WIN

Daniel Bzdigian: $5,000 to show / $5,000 to win — $5,000 — LOST