Joining the PFL in 2019, Brendan Loughnane accomplished world championship aspirations when he won the PFL Featherweight World Championship in 2022. He sought to repeat as champion last year but was knocked out in sudden, upset fashion by eventual champion Jesus Pinedo. Undeterred, Loughnane returned this year a man on a mission. Now after wins over Pedro Carvalho, Justin Gonzales, and Kai Kamaka, Loughnane is one step away from doing what few others have done – become a two-time PFL Champion.

 

A two-time Wushu champion, Timur Khizriev is unbeaten at 17-0. Khizriev is a former featherweight tournament championship winner and went 3-0 in Bellator after joining them in 2022 – joining PFL as a result of the PFL/Bellator merger. Decision wins over Brett Johns, Enrique Barzola, and Gabriel Braga saw Khizriev make his path to tonight’s title fight against a former PFL World Champion.

 

Will the 2024 season cap off with Brendan Loughnane becoming a two-time PFL World Champion? Or will Timur Khizriev score a huge victory – plus the championship and $1 million prize?

 

 

Round 1

 

The two take to the center. Loughnane with a jab. Khizriev with a low kick. Low kick from Khizriev again. Khizriev really focused on the calf kick attack. Strong front kick upstairs by Khizriev. Calf kick by Khizriev. Khizriev misses the double jab. Loughnane goes for an inside kick and has to avoid a combination. Push kick to the face by Khizriev. Spinning back kick to the body lands for Khizriev. Loughnane goes for a wheel kick, and Khizriev takes advantage by taking Loughnane down. Khizriev looking to do work in Loughnane’s guard. Loughnane tries to respond from the bottom.

 

Khizriev trying to keep Loughnane away from the fence, so it’s not used to help him up. Khizriev slides a hook in as Loughnane changes direction. Khizriev trying to get to Loughnane’s back. Knees to the legs from Khizriev. Khizriev with another takedown. Loughnane is fighting it, getting up right away, but Khizriev lands a pair of mat returns. Khizriev lands a big elbow. 12-6 elbow from Khizriev. Loughnane trying to land punches from the bottom, while Khizriev tries to smother and pressure Loughnane, laying on the bottom.

 

 

Round 2

 

Low kick from Khizriev. A pair of left hands from Khizriev. Front kick to the body by Khizriev. Right hand to the body from Khizriev. Loughnane misses a calf kick. Kick to the midsection by Khizriev. Loughnane misses a head kick. Khizriev with an uppercut that appeared to hurt Loughnane. Khizriev isn’t successful with a takedown attempt. Khizriev misses a front kick. Khizriev pressuring Loughnane near the fence. Khizriev lands another jab. Low kick from Loughnane. Jab from Khizriev lands flush on the nose. Loughnane misses the rear knee attempt. Loughnane looking to land a big hook. Loughnane misses a left hand.

 

Low kick from Khizriev. Both miss left hands. Right hand by Khizriev. Khirzriev misses a front kick. Khizriev lands another combination; he is leaving Loughnane guessing. Right hand from Khizriev. An exchange of jabs now. Khizriev misses an overhand right. One-two from Loughnane. Khizriev tries to sneak a right hand on the body. Loughnane going back to the jab. Loughnane catches Khizriev going in for a takedown with a check hook. Khizriev appeared stunned for a bit but he says he’s fine. Low kick from Khizriev. A pair of left jabs from Khizriev. Loughnane’s face is a bloody mess.

 

 

Round 3

 

Khizriev going right back to the jab. One-two from Khizriev. Khizriev goes for a takedown, and Loughnane turns his body to try and defend on the fence. Khirzriev lands a strong knee to make Loughnane a grounded fighter. Loughnane tries to take wrist control with Khizriev on his back. The fight returns to the center of the SmartCage. Both exchange jabs. Khizriev with a heavy calf kick. Khizriev with a pair of jabs. Loughnane moving slowly and he misses a low kick. The two exchange jabs.

 

 

Low kick starts off a combination for Khizriev. Right hand by Khizriev. Loughnane’s spinning back kick attempt sees him taken down again. Loughnane locks up his guard. Khizriev goes across the body. Loughnane is able to return to the feet. Loughnane’s mouthpiece drops for a third time in this fight, and referee Keith Petersen warns him to keep it in. Khizriev landing more jabs until the bell.

 

 

Round 4

 

One-two from Khizriev. Loughnane with a sharp calf kick and a check hook. Uppercut from Khizriev. Khizriev with another takedown following a jab. Khizriev gets to the back, and he’s trying to get the hooks in. Loughnane gets back to his feet, but Khizriev throws an elbow on the break. Another jab from Khizriev. Low kick from Loughnane gets him off balance. Loughnane with a right hand. Khizriev with a combination. Khizriev misses a right hand. Khizriev pressuring Loughnane but misses a spinning back kick.

 

Khizriev misses an uppercut. High kick from Loughnane is blocked. Khizriev lands a forearm on the side of Loughnane’s head. Right hand lands straight for Loughnane. Left hand from Khizriev. Loughnane with a combination. Loughnane with a left jab. Low kick from Loughnane. Right hand from Khizriev.

 

 

 

Round 5

 

Khizriev with a pair of jabs to start. Left hand from Khizriev. Loughnane is still throwing; he isn’t going out quietly. Loughnane misses a left hand. The two exchanging jabs. Khizriev misses a right hand. Left hand from Khizriev. Right hand from Khizriev. Uppercut lands for Khizriev, and it sends Loughnane retreating some. Khizriev with an uppercut, working a combination. Loughnane eats a hard punch but he’s still holding his own. Front kick by Khizriev. Both miss punches. Loughnane still throws a combination.

 

 

Khizriev times it and scores a perfect takedown. Loughnane tries to push Khizriev off of him, but Khizriev pressures and pursues, getting back into top control. Loughnane seats himself against the fence. Loughnane works his way up, but Khizriev is on his back again. Loughnane gets out of the grasp with just less than 90 seconds to go. Both men fire off combinations. Khizriev tries to get to the back of Loughnane again, and he fires off a round kick when Loughnane gets away. Loughnane misses a low calf kick. Overhand right for Khizriev. Loughnane with a left. Both land jabs. The bell sounds.

 

 

Timur Khizriev with a thorough and dominant performance on the feet (and the ground) to claim the 2024 PFL Featherweight World Championship in the main event here in Saudi Arabia!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

Timur Khizriev defeats Brendan Loughnane by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46x2) to become the 2024 PFL Featherweight World Champion

Khizriev remains undefeated at 18-0 and wins the PFL title in his first season

Khizriev is a 2-time Wushu champion

Khizriev’s brother Aliaskhab Khizriev is also undefeated and competes in the UFC

Khizriev fights out of Dagestan

 

2024 PFL Champions

All are first time PFL World Champions this year

 

Women’s Flyweight

Dakota Ditcheva (England)

 

Featherweight

Timur Khizriev (Russia)

 

Lightweight

Gadzhi Rabadanov (Russia)

 

Welterweight

Shamil Musaev (Russia)

 

Light Heavyweight

Dovlet Yagshimuradov (Turkmenistan)

 

Heavyweight

Denis Goltsov (Russia)