Top British MMA star Brendan Loughnane made himself a millionaire when he won the 2022 PFL featherweight tournament.
But the Manchester native was sent crashing back to earth last season when the year’s biggest upset came in the form of a knockout defeat to Jesus Pinedo. Loughnane, after winning his first fight of the year against Marlon Moraes by knockout, he failed to make the playoffs after the stunning loss.
After the fact, Loughnane considered his career for a brief period, but opted to return to the cage for another go at PFL glory. Not only that, but he insisted upon re-entering the season format where he stands to take on four fights – and gruelling weight cuts – in eight months.
PFL season format explained ahead of Brendan Loughnane vs Pedro Carvalho
The PFL season format makes it clear who the best in each division is by placing them in a tournament that pits all of their competitors against top opponents. Every contestant is given two fights in a Champions League-style group, before semi-finals and finals are then decided.
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A win is worth three points, similar to football, but bonus points are available based on how one wins their fight. A first round stoppage garners three extra points, while the second round is worth two, third round is one and a decision leaves you with no bonuses.
Loughnane’s second round win in the opening stage of last season almost earned him a playoff spot regardless of his loss to Pinedo. But the fact his defeat came so early and other results didn’t go his way cost him in the end, and he was forced to re-calibrate ahead of going again in 2024.
Brendan Loughnane predicts fight of the night in comeback bout with Pedro Carvalho
Loughnane faces a stern test in his return to the cage; SBG Ireland’s Pedro Carvalho is a former Bellator title contender who has been in with the best in the world. They are both known for their striking, and fans across the UK and Ireland are expected to stay up into the night to catch a potential banger.
“If previous fights are to go off, I’ve been in a lot of ‘fight of the nights’,” Loughnane explained. “I’ve had a lot of ‘knockout of the nights’ so it’s definitely shaping up to be a good one. I feel like the pressure is off because I’ve got the title, I’m the 2022 champion.
“I’m just coming here now out of choice to have fun and I think it makes me very dangerous… It’s going to be a great fight.”
Brendan Loughnane’s love for fighting drew him back to the PFL season
While fans expected to see the Brit return in some form after his loss to Pinedo, what may have surprised them was the way in which he came back. With the PFL’s purchase of Bellator and a series of stand-alone events under the ‘super fight’ and Bellator banners, it was expected that he may ease himself in.
But he insists that every part of the season format, including having to make the brutal cut to 145lb on potentially four occasions within seven months, makes him want to continue at this rate. “It’s a good thing I’m not most people,” he joked when quizzed by Bloody Elbow about why he’s back in the season.
“I’m Brendan – but I definitely understand it and there were definitely a lot of thoughts going through my head after not just the knockout but winning the belt. But listen, I am a fighter to my core, I love fighting, I love cutting weight, I love training.”
After winning $1million, Brendan Loughnane feels weight cutting brings him back to reality
Loughnane has a tough time making it down to 145lb, usually walking around considerably heavier even at an healthy athletic weight. But he believes the brutal cut can help him stay in touch with those less fortunate despite his status as a millionaire.
“It gives me purpose,” he explained. “and “I absolutely love this s***. I choose to do this. I made some good investments, now got a belt, but I am choosing to be here and still fight the best guys in the world in the hardest tournament in the world because I love it.
“I actually do love cutting weight. I’m gonna tell you why: Because when I get close to a fight and the food and the water gets taken away and everything, it makes you double hungry, double focused.
“I feel like when you get to this close and all your calories go down and stuff and you know there’s other people in the world who don’t have food to hand all the time, you get a little feeling of what it’s like to be hungry, and you’re like, ‘what the hell is going on?’ I know I know maybe I’m a bit lost in the head with it, but I do enjoy it.”
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