A.J. McKee proved there are levels to the game Saturday at PFL San Diego.
Salamat Isbulaev entered the main event with a lot of hype. Thanks to McKee (25-2), he exited with the first loss of his professional career. McKee defeated Isbulaev (10-1) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in the three-round lightweight headliner at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
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McKee made an entrance with rapper O.T. Genasis, who gave a live rendition of his 2019 hit “Everybody Mad.” But it wasn’t just the theatrics that McKee brought with him into the cage.
Despite the hype of the previously unbeaten Kazakh fighter, McKee successfully implemented a diversified attack, as he beat Isbulaev up on the ground and on the feet. In the final seconds, McKee rained down punches and elbows, nearly getting the stoppage – but the horn sounded first.
With the win, McKee firmly reminds the organization of his top-tier talent and potentially aligns himself to be one-half of the promotion’s vacant featherweight title.
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Full PFL San Diego results include:
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A.J. McKee def. Salamat Isbulaev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Liz Carmouche def. Viviane Araujo via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 2:07
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Alexander Shabliy def. Alfie Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Rob Wilkinson def. Abraham Bably via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:23
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Khasan Magomedsharipov def. Joshua Weems via submission (arm triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:10
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Jena Bishop def. Ariane da Silva via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:08
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Sarvarjon Khamidov def. Justin Wetzell via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:11
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Shannon Clark def. Ilara Joanne via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:43
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Cobey Fehr def. Daniel Bzdigian via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 1, 2:00
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL San Diego results: A.J. McKee emphatically sweeps Salamat Isbulaev
