Liz Carmouche Submits Viviane Araujo in Round 2 at PFL San Diego

Q: Why was the result of A.J. McKee’s main event against an undefeated opponent mysteriously omitted from all reports?

There is no verified public explanation in the provided reporting. The omission appears to be an editorial or publishing gap, not a disclosed sporting controversy. Both the event recap and the supplemental web material clearly identify A.J. McKee vs. Salamat Isbulaev as the San Diego main event, yet every available summary listed results for the co-main event and the rest of the card while skipping that bout entirely. The searched material explicitly says the outcome “was not provided” and that no reason for the absence was given. That means the most supportable answer is that the result was omitted because the reports were incomplete or not updated, rather than because of any confirmed cancellation, no contest, commission issue, or embargo. If any of those had occurred, they typically would have been noted in standard MMA results coverage. In short, the “mystery” is real only in the sense that the published recaps left out the main-event result. Based on the information available here, there is no documented reason why.

Q: Is reviving the Bellator name a brilliant strategic move or an admission of the PFL brand’s failure to compete with the UFC?

Reviving Bellator looks more like a strategic hedge than a confession that PFL has failed. The strongest case for bringing Bellator back is brand equity. Bellator still carries recognition with MMA fans, broadcasters and fighters in a way PFL, despite years of investment, has struggled to match consistently in the U.S. market. PFL’s acquisition gave it access to Bellator’s roster, history and name value, and the San Diego card itself showed how much of PFL’s current appeal is tied to former Bellator champions such as A.J. McKee and Liz Carmouche. Using that identity can help PFL market fights more effectively and preserve an audience that already knows those athletes. At the same time, the move also reflects a real weakness in the PFL brand. PFL has changed formats repeatedly, moving away from its original season structure to a more conventional year-round promotion. Its media position in the U.S. has been uncertain, and even PFL executives have acknowledged the need for stronger brand building. If management believes Bellator’s name connects better than PFL’s, that is evidence that PFL has not yet established itself as a true peer to the UFC. So the answer is both, but not equally. It is mainly a pragmatic business move: PFL is trying to use every asset it owns to gain traction in a market dominated by the UFC. Yet the very need to lean on Bellator’s legacy underscores that PFL’s own brand has not become strong enough on its own.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Jun 28

2:07 into Round 2, Liz Carmouche finished Viviane Araujo with a guillotine choke in the PFL San Diego co-main event at Pechanga Arena.
The win added another high-profile result for Carmouche, a former Bellator champion, 2025 PFL tournament winner and former UFC title challenger.
On the same main card, Alexander Shabliy beat Alfie Davis by unanimous decision and Rob Wilkinson stopped Abraham Bably by second-round TKO.
The nine-fight San Diego card also featured several submission-heavy prelims, underscoring PFL's deep roster beyond the A.J. McKee-Salamat Isbulaev headliner.