2022 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane is one of a host of big names set to feature as part of the 2024 tournament.
The full Featherweight line up was released alongside the names of the rest of the athletes set to compete in the 2024 Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, Welterweight, Lightweight and women’s Flyweight tournaments.
The opening round of the 145lbs tournament will take place on the promotion’s April 19 event at Wintrust Arena, Chicago and will share the card with the opening round of the Welterweight division.
One of the most notable names to be returning is Manchester’s Brendan Loughnane. The 2024 season will mark Loughnane’s fourth consecutive year competing in the tournament format.
In his maiden attempt to become PFL Featherweight champion in 2021, Loughnane stopped Sheymon Moraes in the first round and claimed a majority decision against Tyler Diamond to secure his place in the semi-finals. In a tough contest against the unbeaten Movlid Khaybulaev, the Russian managed to do just enough to edge a split decision and bring Loughnane’s tournament run to an end.
He was back for 2022 season and decision wins against Ryoji Kudo, Ago Huskic and Chris Wade let to a final showdown with Bubba Jenkins.
In his crowning moment, Loughnane stopped Jenkins in the fourth round of their bout to become the 2022 PFL Featherweight champion.
His 2023 run came to a stark end, when Jesus Pinedo defeated him in the first round of their bout and, with that, Loughnane failed to make it to the play-offs.
In the co main event of the PFL Chicago card, he will meet Bellator veteran, Pedro Carvalho. The Portuguese native is one of a number of faces who will be switching the Bellator gloves for PFL ones ahead of the tournament.
Carvalho enters the tournament on back to back losses against Bellator title challenger Jeremy Kennedy and Aaron Pico so will be looking to turn his form around against Loughnane.
Brett Johns will also enter the 2024 tournament, on the back of an impressive win against David Tonatiuh Crol in a showcase bout at the PFL Europe Finals in 2023. The Welshman has competed at the top level, for numerous promotions for the last decade so will be looking to show how valuable his in cage experience is, against the 14-0-0 Timur Khizriev.
2023 finalist Justin Gonzales also returns to the fold as he sets his sights on going one step further than last season and having the belt wrapped around his waist. He will square off against Justin Gonzales, who will be making his PFL debut.
Bubba Jenkins is back for his fourth PFL tournament as he welcomes UFC and Bellator veteran Kai Kamaka III to the PFL.
Adam Borics and Enrique Barzola are yet another two athletes who will be making the move from the Bellator cage to the Smart Cage as they face off in the final Featherweight bout of the opening round.
Full Featherweight opening round bouts:
Brendan Loughnane vs Pedro Carvalho
Gabriel Braga vs Justin Gonzalez
Bubba Jenkins vs Kai Kamaka
Adam Borics vs Enrique Barzola
Timur Khizriev vs Brett Johns
