PFL San Diego fight night weights: A.J. McKee gains over 25 pounds for his main event fight

A.J. McKee's dramatic weight-cut figures at PFL San Diego underscore the extreme toll of competing at featherweight, where the champion added 25.8 pounds between Friday's official weigh-in and Saturday's fight night.

McKee scaled 145.6 pounds to make the 145-pound limit, then ballooned to 171.4 pounds in the cage—an 18 percent rehydration gain—en route to defeating Salamat Isbulaev by decision. Isbulaev, who suffered his first career loss, gained 16.7 pounds to reach 162.5 pounds. The California State Athletic Commission released full fight night weights for the card as part of efforts to highlight and curb extreme weight-cutting practices.

Other notable cuts included 2025 PFL lightweight tournament champion Alfie Davis, who gained the card's largest amount in absolute terms: 29.1 pounds, a 19 percent jump from 156 to 185.1 pounds. Co-main event winner Liz Carmouche, who submitted UFC veteran Viviane Araujo, added 21 pounds to her 126-pound Friday weight, reaching 147 on fight night. After her win, Carmouche called for the PFL to establish a women's bantamweight division to ease the burden on 125-pound competitors.

Full fight night weights from PFL San Diego:

A.J. McKee: 145.6 to 171.4 pounds (25.8 pounds, 18%) Salamat Isbulaev: 145.8 to 162.5 pounds (16.7 pounds, 11%) Liz Carmouche: 126 to 147 pounds (21 pounds, 17%) Viviane Araujo: 125.8 to 139.1 pounds (13.3 pounds, 11%) Alexander Shabliy: 155.8 to 172.6 pounds (16.8 pounds, 11%) Alfie Davis: 156 to 185.1 pounds (29.1 pounds, 19%) Abraham Bably: 205.6 to 220.1 pounds (14.5 pounds, 7%) Rob Wilkinson: 205.8 to 226.1 pounds (20.3 pounds, 10%) Khasan Magomedsharipov: 145.8 to 163 pounds (17.2 pounds, 12%) Joshua Weems: 146 to 163.5 pounds (17.5 pounds, 12%) Ariane da Silva: 126 to 142 pounds (16 pounds, 13%) Jena Bishop: 125 to 136 pounds (11 pounds, 9%) Justin Wetzell: 135.6 to 158 pounds (22.8 pounds, 17%) Sarvardzhon Hamido: 137.6 to 158.1 pounds (20.5 pounds, 15%) Shannon Clark: 125.4 to 141.5 pounds (16.1 pounds, 13%) Ilara Joanne: 124.8 to 137.2 pounds (12.4 pounds, 10%) Cobey Fehr: 135.8 to 148.2 pounds (12.4 pounds, 9%) Daniel Bzdigian: 135.6 to 142.5 pounds (6.9 pounds, 5%)