The PFL’s season format always creates interesting stories and for Manchester’s Brendan Loughnane, his 2024 campaign has been about getting back to where he belongs.
After winning the 2022 Featherweight tournament to become a millionaire, a shock knockout loss, and the first time he had been finished, eliminated him from the 2023 season. He has not put this behind him by advancing to the finals for the second time in three years.
Having produced back-to-back finishes on route to the play-offs, Loughnane booked his ticket to the million dollar match by defeating Kai Kamaka III by split decision at PFL 9. It was a smart and strategic striking match which despite one judge scoring it for his opponent, was a good showing for the Brit.
"I was very nervous, I've been robbed on splits before.” Loughnane reflected during his post-fight press conference. “I didn't really know, it's hard when you're in the moment, you don't really know what's happening so you're like, 'Didn't I or did I win it?' But my coaches were confident. As soon as I heard 30-27, I knew they couldn't have given him that first round so I thought thank god."
The first round was by far the easiest round to score after the former winner was able to close out the opening stanza with some devastating Thai knees in the clinch. Despite looking for the finish, he wasn’t able to get it and in his post-fight comments, he revealed how it was a conscious decision to slow the pace back down.
"I'm gonna tell you what happened there right, when I fought Tyler Diamond, I made a grave mistake of going for the finish in the first round and not getting it and then I was gassed in the second and third. So that was the experience, 30-5 as a pro now so while I was ground and pounding, I knew that Mario (Yamasaki) wasn't gonna stop it, I thought pull back because I'm gonna blow my load here and lose this fight so I just started picking the shots and being a bit more clever and then I just thought you know what, I'll fight another day... It was a good fight man, I hope you all enjoyed it."
These strikes, combined with multiple spinning back kicks that had everyone in attendance in Washington, DC wincing, he added a few more clips to his highlight reel in what was an entertaining and well-matched main event.
"I just knew that he was susceptible to them because of his style, because he had his hands up. I thought, we drilled them hard and do you know what, respect to him for taking them because even my coach can't take them on the pads anymore. He's like, 'Bro, please take some power off when you do it because they're vicious'. So fair play to him, I think he took three or four."
Earlier in the night, Loughnane’s opponent in the finals was decided as Timur Khizriev defeated last year’s runner up, Gabriel Braga, to remain undefeated. The former Bellator fighter isn’t known for being a finisher but his grappling has been totally dominant in all three of his fights this season. At least on paper, this match-up could be the most intriguing of any pairing in this year’s featherweight bracket.
"Who's excited for that fight? Me and Khizriev. That's gonna put PFL on the map, that fight. Two real, real elite featherweights, like top of the tree. 30-5 versus 17-0, on paper it's just tasty innit. Exciting."
While Khizriev brings the feared Dagestani wrestling style to the table, this isn’t something that worries the experienced Loughnane. The Brit has had to face many top wrestlers during his time in the PFL alone and has developed a style that is able to counter this grappling heavy approach. His split decision outing against 2021 winner Movlid Khaybulaev was a prime example of that.
"The fact that I get to fight Khizriev in the final is perfect because I would've preferred him over five rounds anyway. He starts to slow down when I speed up so not to give away the game plan but there's the game plan.
"Brendan Loughnanenov. You know what it is guys, utmost respect for these guys. I train with a lot of them in Thailand. Muhammed Mokaev is one of my very, very close friends. I have the utmost respect for their style but I know that style. I know that style, I've fought it before, I fought Movlid and got a split decision with a broken hand. I can beat that style, I am a nightmare to take down and I'm an even bigger nightmare to keep down. You've got to deal with me on the feet, you've got to deal with my cardio, you've got to deal with my experience. I'm 30-5 man with 16 KOs, it's a tough night for anyone in the world of mixed martial arts."
As Loughnane aims to join the exclusive list of multiple time PFL winners, there’s one thing that is clear in everything he says. The 2022 winner is back to his best and after battling through a difficult year last time around, he’s returned to loving every moment and aspect of the fight game.
Words by Kyle Dimond
