Brendan
Loughnane has been with the
Professional Fighters League since 2019 and has grown with the
company to a point where both parties are thriving in the present
day.
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Loughnane, who has only lost twice in the PFL, has figured out a
method to the promotion’s regular season and playoff format, and
five years later he’s prepared for business once again.
Loughnane will begin his bid to become a two-time PFL champion when
he takes on
UFC and Bellator
MMA veteran Kai Kamaka
III in the featherweight semifinals at
PFL 9 on Aug. 23. During a recent media call, Loughnane
discussed his veteran status with the promotion and how he feels
this is the time for business with the playoffs having arrived.
“Yeah, this is the business end of the tournament now,” Loughnane
said. “I’m feeling great. Another great camp, I’ve managed to stay
healthy all year.”
When it comes to experience, it’s not just what he’s done in the
PFL. Loughnane noted he has more career wins than Kamaka has total
professional fights. The PFL schedule is partially responsible for
that level of activity and the reason why Loughnane says he
couldn’t return to “normal fighting,” where he’d only compete once
or twice a year.
“I’ve got more wins that Kai has fights. I’ve been around this game
for a long time, so I don’t think I could go back to normal
fighting now,” he said. “I call it normal fighting, I mean like
once or twice a year, I don’t know how people do it, that bores me
now. I feel like I’m a tournament fighter, and I feel like the key
to this thing is staying healthy and I’ve finally got it right this
season.”
Loughnane says nothing has changed in his preparation this time
around and the main focus is to remain healthy and balanced. Even
though the points system is no a factor in the PFL postseason,
Loughnane’s approach hasn’t changed.
“There’s not really a difference, it’s just a fight,” he said. “I
never really take a look at points anyway. I never really cared
about how many points I get in a fight; it was always just a fight
to me. Just luckily I am a finisher. I have 16 knockouts on my
record. I’m known for finishing people, and that’s why the
tournament has always suited me.”
Despite being busier than most fighters in other organizations,
Loughnane said the activity he sees every year just feels normal at
this point and isn’t much of sacrifice.
“It doesn’t really feel like a sacrifice anymore. I feel like I’m
enjoying this season, the weight is better than ever,” Loughnane.
“I’m enjoying the camp, the weight just keeps falling into place. I
remember the year [2023] I lost to [Jesus] Pinedo, the weight cuts
were just getting really hard, my body wasn’t holding up as well. I
got that 10 months off, I feel I’ve come back to this season
refreshed and enjoying fighting again.”
The version of Loughnane who is enjoying fighting once again has
led to two knockouts during the regular season and the top seed in
the featherweight standings. Now the former champion is itching to
get back the title he once captured. Just two wins away from being
champion again, it’s business time for Loughnane.