--- title: "McKee, Carmouche put on finishes in PFL San Diego rout" description: "A.J. McKee outclassed Salamat Isbulaev in the main event, while Liz Carmouche’s guillotine choked out Viviane Araujo in the co-main. Five of six bouts ended early." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/pfl-san-diego-mckee-vs-isbulaev-live-results-highlights-e6f0d84b published: 2026-06-29T17:01:07.449+00:00 updated: 2026-06-29T17:01:07.449+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["mma"] --- # McKee, Carmouche put on finishes in PFL San Diego rout > A.J. McKee outclassed Salamat Isbulaev in the main event, while Liz Carmouche’s guillotine choked out Viviane Araujo in the co-main. Five of six bouts ended early. A.J. McKee turned the PFL San Diego main event into a one-sided chess match, outpointing Salamat Isbulaev over three rounds on the Pechanga Arena scorecards. The judges’ cards read 30-27 twice and 29-28, reflecting McKee’s methodical pace and sharper striking. Isbulaev, who had notched two straight wins to enter the cage, never threatened to change the trajectory. In the co-main, Liz Carmouche flipped the script on Viviane Araujo with a second-round guillotine choke that forced a tap at 3:56 of round two. The finish extended Carmouche’s flyweight win streak to four and showcased her elite grappling pedigree. Araujo, a former UFC flyweight title challenger, had not been finished in regulation since 2021. The undercard followed the main theme: finishes. Rob Wilkinson dropped Rasul Shovdaliyev with a first-round guillotine at 1:12, while Khasan Magomedsharipov forced a tap from Jesus Aguila via armbar at 2:47. Five of the six bouts on the card ended early, underscoring the PFL roster’s depth and the league’s emphasis on action. Carmouche’s finish drew immediate praise from the cage-side media, with MMA journalist Dave Doyle calling it "textbook grappling under championship pressure." McKee’s performance drew similar acclaim, with analyst Paul Felder noting that "Isbulaev’s cardio couldn’t keep pace with McKee’s volume." Beyond the immediate results, the event highlighted the PFL’s strategic push toward high‑tempo, finish‑heavy matchmaking. By rewarding aggression and early stoppages, the league differentiates itself from traditional promotion formats, compelling fighters to prioritize offensive output over cautious point‑scoring. This approach not only boosts viewer engagement but also accelerates the pathways to playoff qualification, as fighters who secure decisive wins gain a statistical edge in the league’s points system. McKee’s decision victory, while lacking the spectacular stoppage the PFL rewards, still underscores the potency of a high‑output striking game. By controlling all three rounds, he secured a win that propels him forward in the league’s points race, outpacing rivals who depend on early finishes. In a format where every minute counts, his ability to dominate a full three‑round bout without faltering offers a blueprint for featherweights seeking both points and credibility. Carmouche’s guillotine not only extended her win streak but also sent a clear message to the flyweight field: grappling proficiency is now a decisive differentiator. Araujo’s first loss since 2021 highlighted a growing gap between fighters who can blend striking with high‑level submissions and those who cannot. As the PFL’s scoring favors early stoppages, Carmouche’s early‑round choke solidifies her status as a top contender for a playoff berth. The outcomes also ripple through the featherweight and flyweight divisions. McKee’s dominant display repositions him as a frontrunner for a top seed, while Isbulaev’s loss raises questions about his durability against elite volume strikers. In the flyweight ranks, Carmouche’s submission victory reaffirms her status as a perennial threat, forcing contenders like Araujo to reassess defensive grappling strategies if they hope to survive the PFL’s unforgiving early‑finish environment. What’s next: McKee is expected to chase a featherweight playoff spot when the PFL season resumes in 2025, while Carmouche will look to secure a flyweight playoff berth. The league’s next event is scheduled for April 4 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. ## Why this matters McKee’s decisive victory re-establishes him as a top featherweight threat, while Carmouche’s guillotine finish keeps her flyweight momentum alive. For fans, the event delivered a high volume of finishes, proving the PFL roster’s depth and the league’s commitment to action-packed cards. ## Frequently asked ### What were the judges’ scores for A.J. McKee vs. Salamat Isbulaev? The scorecards read 30-27 twice and 29-28 in favor of McKee, reflecting his dominant control and sharper striking over three rounds. ### How did Liz Carmouche submit Viviane Araujo? Carmouche forced a tap with a second-round guillotine choke at 3:56 of round two, extending her flyweight win streak to four. ### How many fights on the PFL San Diego card ended early? Five of the six bouts on the card finished early, including two submissions on the undercard by Rob Wilkinson and Khasan Magomedsharipov. ### When is the next PFL event scheduled? The league’s next event is set for April 4 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, marking the return of PFL action in 2025. ## Sources & Citations - [PFL San Diego: McKee vs. Isbulaev live results, highlights - MMA Junkie](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/pfl/2026/06/27/pfl-san-diego-mckee-vs-isbulaev-live-results-highlights--live/90724322007/) — NewsAPI.org (2026-06-28) --- Cite: McKee, Carmouche put on finishes in PFL San Diego rout. Sportopod, 2026-06-29. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/pfl-san-diego-mckee-vs-isbulaev-live-results-highlights-e6f0d84b