Back in action at PFL San Diego this Saturday, former Bellator champ AJ McKee is finally fighting at home again in California, after missing out on several SD cards over the years.
This time out, the #2-ranked McKee (24-2) has been paired up with Salamat Isbulaev, an undefeated, 10-0 featherweight who already has a victory over Jesus Pinedo in the PFL.
There was a point when McKee was on the market, his services up for grabs with the UFC and others in play. Ultimately, he opted to re-sign with the PFL, who scooped up his old home, Bellator MMA, a few years back. In a recent interview, McKee told Cageside Press that “PFL’s got a thick roster as well. They’ve got a lot of up-and-comers like Isbulaev himself. I’m looking forward to doing what I do best, which is kick ass and take names.”
In Isbulaev, McKee sees a skilled wrestler, but questioned the Russian-Kazakh’s striking. “I think he’s got good wrestling, pretty good jiu-jitsu from what I’ve seen,” allowed McKee. “Little sus on the feet, I think he blends his wrestling with his striking. I saw that with Pineda, they had what, three minutes before he even engaged? This ain’t gonna be a fight where we’re taking three minutes to engage.”
“It’s execute, execute, execute all the way. So I’m going to get in there and I’m going to get on him, and we’ll see how things go.”
PFL CEO John Martin has suggested that Saturday’s PFL San Diego main event between AJ McKee and Salamat Isbulaev could very well be a title eliminator. While McKee isn’t looking past his opponent, it’s clear the title is on his mind. Right now, the belt is vacant, and only Timur Khizriev sits ahead of McKee himself.
“I don’t like to look ahead, but at the end of the day, I genuinely don’t care who it is, when it is, where it is. I’m just looking forward to becoming world champion again, and holding that world title around my waist.”
Watch our full interview with PFL San Diego headliner AJ McKee above.
