Brendan Loughnane is hoping his path to another PFL title will pass through Movlid Khaybulaev.
Khaibolayev (20-0-1-1) is the only fighter to beat Lugnan (27-4) in the NBL, besting him by split decision in the 2021 NFL semi-final. He went on to beat Chris Wade in the finals To win the season and the featherweight title.
With the loss of Khaibolayev last year, Lovnan didn’t get a chance to cross paths with him on his way to winning the featherweight title himself. But Loughnane would like the stars to team up for a final showdown with Khaybulaev this year.
“I just hope the standings for the semi-finals will actually determine his place in the final,” Loughnan told MMA Radio Junkie. “I’d rather fight him over five rounds this time. I’m a five-round fighter. I just feel like I got massive advantages in the fourth and fifth rounds. So, I hope I can get him over five, but if I have to do it over three, I’m not mad.” from that too.”
Loughnane and Khaybulaev successfully launched the 2023 PFL campaign. Loughnane stopped former UFC title challenger Marlon Moraes by TKO at PFL 1, and Khaibulaev scored a unanimous decision over Ryoji Kudo that same night.
But it wasn’t Khipulayev who impressed Loughnan in the opening game of the season.
“The only person who stood out to me was Bubba Jenkins,” said Loughnan. “He looked really good against Chris Wade. Aside from that, not really, no. And that’s just being honest.”
Their campaign continues into the 2023 PFL 4 on June 8 in Atlanta, where Loughnane is set to face Jesus Pinedo, and Khaybulaev is booked against Daniel Torres.
For more card information, visit the MMA Junkie Event Center for PFL 2023, Week 4.