Former UFC bantamweight Caolan Loughran has signed a multi-fight deal with the PFL.
Loughran (10-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) earned a win over Nathan Fletcher in his most recent UFC appearance in London this past March. However, it later emerged that the organization had opted not to renew the Irish fighter’s contract.
“I've signed with the PFL”, Loughran revealed while speaking to reporters immediately after the PFL Europe event in Belfast on Saturday night. “F***ing only signed there yesterday, I'm unbelievably happy to announce it.
“I've known about this from straight after my last fight. I went into free agency after my (last) fight with the UFC. There was a wee bit of pushback immediately. I'm not going to…and that really rubbed me up the wrong way. The PFL came in, and even from today, the way I was treated (was amazing).”
"The Don" was in attendance at the SSE Arena on Saturday night to witness Paul Hughes deliver a stunning first-round knockout against former Bellator title challenger Bruno Miranda. He also mentioned that he had spoken with Hughes about the move.
“I met Paul (Hughes) this morning. I met him in Fight Academy, done a session. And he says, ‘The UFC's always the dream’, he says, ‘but very quickly, you're going to realize this was the right choice’. And I mean f*** me, that was unbelievable.”
Last year’s PFL European bantamweight champion, Lewis McGrillen (12-1 MMA, 6-1 PFL), scored a submission win over Alan Philpott in Saturday’s co-main event. After the fight, Loughran revealed that the promotion had intended to bring both fighters into the cage for a faceoff.
“I was told it was going to go one of two ways: we're gonna announce you on the production, or if Lewis wins, he's down to call you out. You're going in for a face-off in the cage. That's what I was told.
“Now me and Lewis have sparred, we've trained (together), and Dan (Hardy) put it on a plate, and that didn't happen. So make of that what you want. I don't really care about him. I'm here for the PFL belt for the World Series next year, unless someone gets injured this year. But I've been told two showcase fights. I think we missed one there, but then immediately I was very cross. But then Paul came out (and won the main event), I was like, ‘tonight's Paul's night, he deserves this, you know what I mean?”
After his victory over Philpott, McGrillen repeatedly called for a chance to headline a PFL Europe event in his hometown. Loughran, who lives and trains nearby in Liverpool, admitted he’d love the opportunity to crash the Mancunian’s homecoming.
“If he was talking about PFL Manchester, I'd gladly (take that fight),” he said. “I think I'm ten (wins) in a row in the enemy’s f***ing backyard, so I’d gladly go fight him in Manchester. If they want to make that, I’m down 100%.”
