'I could see his brain'… Brendan Loughnane advances in PFL season with gruesome doctor's stoppage
06/29/2024 10:58 AM
After a tumultuous 2023, Brendan Loughnane is back in the PFL playoffs following another controversial stoppage.
The Brit was dominating proceedings against Justin Gonzales, who had needed a first round stoppage, during last night’s final regular season fight. Knowing that he was already qualified for the playoffs this August, Loughnane opted for a more tame approach as he picked his shots well early.
And about halfway through the second, Gonzales walked himself right on to a perfectly placed knee which immediately sliced his head open. The pair attempted to continue, but Loughnane even questioned referee Jason Herzog between exchanges, before it was eventually stopped.
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Brendan Loughnane progresses to PFL playoffs with gruesome stoppage
After winning the 2022 PFL tournament with an impressive run of results, Brendan Loughnane was stopped in stunning fashion and eliminated by Jesus Pinedo last season. But he came back strong, landing a controversial first round stoppage of Pedro Carvalho in the first round that all but qualified him.
By the time he was stepping in the cage last night, he had already made it to the featherweight playoffs due to results around the division. As such, he opted to wait for Gonzales to strike first in his efforts to land a game-changing first round finish.
They went back-and-forth, with the Brit showing his superior striking throughout the rounds. And with just under a minute and a half left, he landed a flush knee that split his rival open with one of the most nasty cuts a fighter could see on his forehead.
Ever the competitor, Gonzales attempted to compete through a sea of blood leaking down his face. But once Herzog had doctors come in to look at him, they quickly called a halt to the contest, declaring Loughnane the winner by TKO.
Brendan Loughnane claims he could see his rival’s brain in disgusting PFL finish
Speaking after the fight, Loughnane told commentator Sean O’Connell that he felt obligated to ask for the fight to be stopped after causing such a cut. He noted that he could even get a glimpse of his rival’s brain through the heavy laceration.
“Last year I slipped up at this mark and I ended up going home,” he explained. “I don’t like watching the fights before so it’s like ‘oh if you win by one point you’re going to be in, I hate all that stuff so today I tried to switch off from all that.
“Today I heard ‘you’re through anyways’ so I said to myself I’d stay patient and I tried that, I was maybe a little too patient. Then I started to get my timing, I landed a good calf kick, started to come on and then the timing on that knee, I just watched it back, it was perfect.
“So what can you say about that finish? I could see his brain. I could see pink brain coming through the head and I thought ‘Jason, do him a favour, lad’. This was going to get ugly, wow, 16 knockouts in professional MMA.
“I’m up there, give it to me. Second world title on the way, come on let’s go, Manchester in the building let’s go!”
Brendan Loughnane to face Kai Kamaka III in PFL playoffs
Now, the focus for Loughnane turns to the challenge of UFC and Bellator veteran Kai Kamaka III. The Hawaiian is riding a five-fight win streak and hasn’t lost in two years, scraping through in the number four spot with two decision wins.
On the night, Kamaka defeated Loughnane’s old opponent Pedro Carvalho, with the Brit saying of the matchup: “I like him, he comes to fight and he had a really tough fight like myself, we’re both bust up. This is a fan favourite fight, I’m excited for it.”
After the fact, the pair faced off in the PFL Smart Cage, with the winner set to face either Gabriel Braga or Timur Khizriev. The Brazilian was a finalist last year, but was beaten by Pinedo, while Khizriev is undefeated in 16 professional fights.
