For years, women have fought for opportunities in mixed martial arts. Today, they're helping define some of the sport's biggest events.
That will be on full display when the Professional Fighters League comes to Pechanga Arena San Diego on June 27, featuring three women's bouts, including a co-main event that puts the women’s division in one of the night's most prominent spots.
The featured matchup will see Liz Carmouche and Viviane Araújo meet in a women's flyweight contest, serving as the co-main event ahead of the night's headliner between AJ McKee and Salamat Isbulaev. Elsewhere on the card, Ariane Lipski da Silva faces Jena Bishop, while Shannon "MMA Barbie" Clark takes on Ilara "Arya Stark" Joanne.
While each fight carries its own significance inside the cage, the larger story is the visibility of women's MMA on a major stage.
Not long ago, seeing multiple women's fights featured prominently on the same card was uncommon. Today, organizations like the PFL continue to showcase female athletes in meaningful positions throughout their events, reflecting the sport's steady growth and increasing popularity.
The inclusion of three women's bouts at PFL San Diego highlights how far the sport has come. Women's MMA has grown from a niche part of the fight game into a major attraction, producing some of the most exciting moments and recognizable stars in combat sports. As fan interest continues to rise, opportunities for female fighters have expanded alongside it.
PFL San Diego offers another example of that progress. From the co-main event to the preliminary card, women will have a strong presence throughout the evening, giving fans multiple opportunities to watch high-level competition across the division.
As the sport continues to evolve, cards like PFL San Diego demonstrate that women in MMA have become a driving force behind in making it one of the world’s most popular sports.
PFL San Diego takes place June 27 at Pechanga Arena San Diego. The main card airs live on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. PT, with preliminary bouts beginning at 4 p.m. PT on the ESPN App.
