PFL has booked AJ McKee (24-2, ranked #2) against Salamat Isbulaev (10-0, ranked #6) for June 27 in San Diego. In his PFL debut, Isbulaev faced #3-ranked Jesus Pinedo and finished him in the first round, yet was only ranked #6 afterward. Now he faces former Bellator champion McKee, one of PFL's strongest fighters with an impressive resume. The matchmaking presents a difficult path to the title for Isbulaev without giving him easier warm-up fights, and questions remain about why he's still ranked #6 rather than #3.
PFL has officially booked AJ McKee against Salamat Isbulaev for June 27 in San Diego, setting up a featherweight clash between one of the promotion's marquee names and an unbeaten newcomer who has wasted no time making noise.
McKee, known as "Mercenary," carries an 8-0-0 record inside the PFL and brings the pedigree of a former Bellator champion into the matchup. Standing five-foot-ten and averaging 2.75 significant strikes per minute, he also poses a serious grappling threat, averaging an eye-catching 11.01 takedowns and 11 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He enters the bout ranked second in the division and is widely regarded as one of the organization's most dangerous fighters.
Isbulaev, a 29-year-old from Kazakhstan, arrives undefeated at 9-0-0 and ranked sixth at featherweight. In his PFL debut he met third-ranked Jesus Pinedo and finished him inside the opening round, a result that drew attention but did not move the needle much on his ranking. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, the Kazakh's promotional sample size remains small, though his 50 percent striking accuracy hints at efficiency in the brief footage available.
Why it matters
- McKee's second-ranked status means a win for Isbulaev would be a significant leap toward a title shot in one of his earliest PFL appearances.
- Isbulaev's first-round finish of ranked contender Pinedo raises questions about why the promotion still lists him sixth, and this fight will force a clearer answer.
- The stylistic contrast is stark: McKee's relentless grappling volume against a fighter whose ground numbers inside PFL are still largely untested.
- A McKee victory would reinforce his position as the division's front-runner behind the champion, keeping his title path intact.
