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.
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.
