2024 PFL Championships faceoff off between Brendan Loughnane vs Timur Khizriev in the course of the ceremonial weigh-ins at King Saud College in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
Headlining the PFL Championship 2024 card on Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia had been featherweights Brendan Loughnane and Timur Khizriev, who had a tricky act to observe.
Acts, in reality. All 5 PFL International championship bouts had led to finishes, with Dakota Ditcheva claiming her first million greenback purse within the co-main occasion. As for Loughnane, he was trying to earn his second world title, however had a tricky opponent throughout from him in Dagestan, Russia’s Khizriev.
Khizriev was by far the extra energetic fighter early, peppering Loughnane with kicks. It was about 90 seconds earlier than Loughnane actually received a little bit of offense going, nevertheless it paled as compared, and Khiziev underscored that with a spinning kick to the midsection. Loughnane tried to reply with one in every of his personal, however Khizriev then exploded ahead, touchdown a takedown and making Loughnane pay for the flashy kick.
Loughnane shrimped again to the fence, however Khizriev was energetic, and when Loughnane discovered a little bit of area for a scramble, Khizriev grabbed a physique lock, and received one hook in, controlling the again. Loughnane did make it again to his ft, solely to be toppled once more by a Khizriev journey. Not the opening spherical Brendan Loughnane was on the lookout for, and Khizriev combined in some massive elbows within the closing minute – a brand new twist on the PFL format, with championship bouts permitting elbows for the primary time, together with 12-6 elbows underneath the newly up to date Unified Guidelines of MMA.
Spherical two noticed one other spinning kick to the midsection early, adopted by a mixture that appeared to have the British fighter harm. Khizriev added a kick to the thigh, then flashed one straight up the center that fell quick. The Russian had been in management practically all the combat, with Loughnane trying to course right, however discovering little in the way in which of a gap. A proper overhand landed for Khizriev. Loughnane fired a mixture in response, however Khizriev moved again, simply avoiding these punches. One other proper, and a left jab, related for Khizriev. Loughnane, bloodied, did handle to clip Khizriev with a verify hook within the closing minute, his finest second of the combat.
Spherical three noticed Khizriev drive right into a takedown early. Loughnane practically gave up his again, then received caught by a knee earlier than dropping into place as a downed opponent. This time, nevertheless, Loughnane was in a position to fend off the takedown. His face, nevertheless, was additional bloodied care of the knee, with injury by the attention including to a nostril that had already been leaking blood.
Khizriev, in the meantime, fired kicks at Loughnane’s lead leg; his motion had grow to be hampered, both via the kicks, or some unseen harm that had left him compromised. Loughnane landed a proper hand, trailing his jab, however Khizriev was faster, extra cell, and far more correct. An uppercut knocked Loughnane’s mouthpiece out, and Brendan then fired a spinning again kick that once more noticed Khizriev duck underneath and land a takedown. With simply over 90 seconds on the clock, Khizriev tried to get energetic whereas Loughnane tried to tie him up, shedding his mouthpiece within the course of. Loughnane dropped just a few elbows and managed to face up after a couple of minute, shedding his mouthpiece for a 3rd time within the spherical.
Heading into the championship rounds, Brendan Loughnane was nearly definitely down, possible 3-0, and in want of a end, or not less than a 10-8 rounds. Given his mobility points and injury, that was a tricky ask, made harder by Khizriev touchdown a takedown 30 seconds or so in. Loughnane labored to his knees, however needed to fear about Timur Khizriev taking the again. Loughnane did escape out, with Khizriev firing a spinning kick shortly after. Loughnane did land a strong proper hand, however was countered.
Khizriev slipped off a spinning again kick on the midway mark of the spherical, however Loughnane couldn’t take benefit. Khizriev then fanned on an uppercut that had a complete lot of weight behind it. A left hand landed for Khizriev, extra of a forearm strike.
Spherical 5 gave Loughnane 5 minutes to land a Hail Mary end. Khizriev nevertheless was the a lot brisker, extra cell fighter. He stepped into an uppercut, adopted by one other, simply over a minute in. A step in elbow got here subsequent, however Loughnane was hip to it. Nonetheless, Khizriev was touchdown at a much better clip than Brendan Loughnane. A proper hand did join for Loughnane, whereas Khizriev related with a slapping left. With underneath half a spherical remaining, Khizriev modified lefts, exploding right into a takedown. Loughnane kicked him off, however Khizriev stayed on the takedown. Loughnane gave up his again attending to his ft, leaning on the cage to take action. He would end up with 90 seconds left within the combat. Loughnane fired off a mixture, connecting. A takedown try by Khizriev failed. Loughnane would keep within the Russian’s face to the bell, and credit score to him for toughing it out, however the clear win went to Timur Khizriev.
Official End result: Timur Khizriev def. Brendan Loughnane by unanimous choice (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
