Brendan Loughnane aims to join an exclusive club of two-time champions in the Professional Fighters League this week, while also walking away with $1 million.
Standing in his way in Riyadh this Friday is the undefeated Timur Khizriev (17-0), who has his own designs on the featherweight crown at the 2024 PFL World Championship finals.
Britain's Loughnane won his first PFL featherweight title in 2022 by beating Bubba Jenkins. He successfully defended his crown against Marlon Moraes before losing his belt to Jesus Pinedo last year.
Manchester-born Loughnane, 34, who has won 30 of his 35 mixed martial arts bouts, believes his experience will be the key to regaining the strap.
“It's definitely nothing I've not seen before. I've been fighting for a long time. I've fought world-class people for the last decade. So, I'm more than ready for it,” Loughnane told The National when asked about the threat posed by Russian Khizriev.
“And yes, a lot of experience and I think that's going to play a key factor in me winning the fight.”
In Khizriev, Loughnane faces an opponent known for his grappling prowess. It's not surprising given that Khizriev began his combat sports journey in wrestling aged nine. The Russian arrives riding a hot streak that includes three wins in Bellator and three more in the PFL.
But Loughnane said: “I just think it's a typical striker versus grappler contest. I think he's going to try and take it to the floor and I'm going to try to knock him out, and whoever is successful will win the fight."
The bout could also be the last for Loughnane competing in the PFL tournament format.
The promotion currently stages fights across six weight divisions, as well as a special pay-per-view “Super Fight” division that is based on name and status.
In January 2023, PFL announced they had signed an exclusive deal with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul to make him the first fighter in the new PPV division.
Paul co-created the PFL Super Fight division in which fighters earn 50 per cent revenue from all of their bouts.
Francis Ngannou became the first PFL Super Fight heavyweight champion on his MMA return in October, after dispatching Renan Ferreira in the first round in Riyadh.
In the regular weight classes there is a $1m jackpot available for each year's champion but that comes after a gruelling tournament format. Loughnane heads into this weekend's bout desperate to land his second winner's cheque but with one eye on the Super Fight division.
“I have been in the PFL for six years and they are great," the Englishman said. “I've grown with the company from start to finish, you know, they changed my life, changed my family's life and I love fighting for them.
“[The tournament format] is very difficult, mentally, physically, it's very hard to compete so many times back-to-back, but I've done it so many times now that I'm used to it.
“Now I’m going to do things like the Super Fights and fights with belts and things like that, so I'll choose this one instead. Rather than doing the tournament format again I'd rather just do it the other way now, because I feel that I have been here a long time and it is physically demanding.
“It takes a full year out of your life every year. I have done this for the last four to five years. I sat down with my manager and my team and I think it would be more beneficial now to have bigger fights, like in the UK, some Super Fights ... I would love to do that.”
Having moved to Dubai after purchasing a property there in 2022, Loughnane now divides his time between the city and his native England, spending around six months a year in each.
“I have been coming on and off to Dubai since 2020 and later bought a property. I use it also as a base to train and for flying out to Riyadh after completing my final preparations here,” Loughnane said.
“I'm really happy to be in Dubai, happy to be in my own home in Dubai, you know, finishing this and then getting a flight tomorrow to go and fight and then back to my home again.”
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
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Predictions
Predicted winners for final round of games before play-offs:
- Friday: Delhi v Chennai - Chennai
- Saturday: Rajasthan v Bangalore - Bangalore
- Saturday: Hyderabad v Kolkata - Hyderabad
- Sunday: Delhi v Mumbai - Mumbai
- Sunday - Chennai v Punjab - Chennai
Final top-four (who will make play-offs): Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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The%20specs
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SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Persuasion
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Gifts exchanged
- King Charles -- replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla -- Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump -- hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump -- personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
