English featherweight star Brendan Loughnane is heading into the PFL Championships 2024 in confident mood as he attempts to become a two-time PFL world champion.
Loughnane, who captured the featherweight championship in 2022, takes on undefeated Russian wrestler Timur Khizriev in the main event of the PFL Championships 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday night with the featherweight world title and a million dollars awaiting the victor.
It’s a belt, and a prize, he’s won before, but he’s every bit as motivated now as he was two years ago.
“2022 was a crazy season, right?” he told MMA Junkie Radio.
“Because, this million dollars, I’ve got so much riding on this million dollars. It’s my family’s future. It’s this and that. It’s my world title, proving people wrong. There was so much going into it.
“Now it’s just like, whatever! I’ve just enjoyed the whole year. I’m really showing my versatility in martial arts. I’ve taken every fight as it comes, and I’m loving every second of it.”
Given Loughnane’s path to the 2022 featherweight championship, his confidence ahead of Friday’s final is no surprise. That season, Loughnane was forced to battle decorated wrestlers, and he did so with remarkable success.
That season, he was tested against the likes of Tyler Diamond, Chris Wade and Bubba Jenkins and, on each occasion, he successfully shut down their wrestling games and lit them up on the feet.
Loughnane’s victory over Jenkins in the 2022 finale was a masterclass of defensive wrestling and top-drawer striking as he delivered one of the best performances by a British athlete in an MMA world title fight to capture the PFL crown two years ago.
“It ain’t no different to 2022 (with) Bubba Jenkins coming in, wrestling, wrestling, wrestling, wrestling,” he said.
“Guess how many takedowns he got, fellas? Zero. The fight before that, Chris Wade, another wrestler. Guess how many takedowns he got, fellas? Zero. Don’t be surprised if this guy does not take me down. Don’t be surprised! This is not my first wrestler rodeo!”
PFLKhizriev has never tasted defeat in 17 pro bouts. The Russian contender has a grinding, dominant wrestling style that has earned him 13 decision wins and four finishes. It might not always be the most fan-friendly style, but there’s no denying the effectiveness of his approach.
After claiming a hat-trick of wins under the Bellator Banner in 2022 and 2023, Khizriev joined the PFL global season for 2024 and outpointed veterans Brett Johns, Enrique Barzola and Gabriel Braga to reach Friday’s final. All three opponents are well-drilled, seasoned operators, and none had an answer to Khizriev’s wrestling.
The Russian’s fighting style will offer few surprises for Loughnane, who said the striker-versus-grappler style clash is clear and obvious.
“We’ve got a Dagestani versus an English striker. We all know what’s going to happen,” he said.
“Whoever can implement (their game) will be the PFL world champion in 2024.”
Loughnane will be confident of victory, however. In a five-round title fight, he knows the action always starts standing. That fact, coupled with the Mancunian’s outstanding takedown defence, should give him plenty of opportunities to test Khizriev on the feet.
And with Loughnane’s record owning more finishes than Khizriev has fights, the Brit will be looking to shut down the Russian’s takedown threat, then punish him on the feet.
“This is my 36th pro fight now, so I’ve been around. I’ve fought them all,” he said.
“I’ve fought some different, really, really different styles. And, let’s have it right, we all know what this fight is going to be. I’m going to try and knock him out, and he’s going to try and hold me until the end of the fight. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
