Preview: PFL 2024 Season Championships

It all comes down to this for the Professional Fighters League. The PFL 2024 Season Championships have arrived, and six lucky competitors will go home with a $1 million grand prize this Friday at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main event sees 2022 champion Brendan Loughnane face the undefeated Timur Khizriev in the featherweight final. Meanwhile, perhaps the most anticipated female fight in PFL history goes down when Taila Santos battles Dakota Ditcheva for the women’s flyweight crown.

Now to the preview for the 2024 PFL Season Championships:

PFL Featherweight Final

Timur Khizriev (17-0, 3-0 PFL) vs. Brendan Loughnane (30-5, 12-2 PFL)

ODDS: Khizriev (-280), Loughnane (+190)

Loughnane has been one of the most consistent fighters in the PFL since signing with the organization in 2019, having compiled an impressive 13-2 record inside the SmartCage. The Manchester, England, featherweight isn’t known for his grappling—he has not won a fight by submission since 2012—but he brings top-tier striking to the table. With 16 knockouts on his ledger, the 34-year-old has the gusto to put foes to sleep with one shot but uses volume to overwhelm his opponents early. Game planning against him can’t be easy. In most fights, Loughnane looks to get out to a fast start and set the pace before his opponent can get a read on his speed and tendencies. Loughnane has debilitating low kicks he uses to work his way back upstairs. Loughnane is so dangerous because he understands how to counter the counter. He doesn’t lose his focus while throwing a flurry of shots, and his power builds throughout the combination. If you try to fight him off, you’re only opening yourself up for more punishment. It wouldn’t be outlandish to say that Loughnane is the best striker in the PFL featherweight division, but his grappling shouldn’t be underestimated. Loughnane may not be a submission specialist, but he’s notoriously hard to take down.

While you know what to expect from Loughnane, the same cannot be said for his undefeated challenger. Khizriev doesn’t have nearly the same number of viral highlights as Loughnane, but with an unblemished record, that seems to matter little. Like many Dagestani fighters, Khizriev is a master at controlling a bout. Opponents respect Khizriev’s wrestling so much they are almost befuddled by his high work rate on the feet. Khizriev doesn’t shoot takedown after takedown but instead disguises his grappling intentions behind an active, fundamental jab. Khizriev bothered Gabriel Braga with that tool in the featherweight semifinal before putting him on the defensive with the single-leg. If Loughnane hopes to win this fight, he must take away Khizriev’s jab and force him to open up. Loughnane has a deep bag of tricks, including a sharp spinning back kick that he used quite successfully in his semifinal match with Kai Kamaka III. With that said, it will not be enough. Khizriev’s style is dominating the MMA scene right now, and unless Loughnane can land something big, he won’t be able to separate himself on the scorecards. Khizriev is disciplined and he’s no pushover on the feet, but he’ll win this fight with his wrestling. Khizriev’s ability to threaten and secure takedowns makes him extremely tough to beat on the scorecards. Expect Loughnane to have his moments, but if he cannot put Khizriev away, he’ll be another skilled striker to fall prey to a well-balanced game plan.

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Khizriev vs. Loughnane
Ditcheva vs. Santos
Kasanganay vs. Yagshimuradov
Musaev vs. Umalatov
Rabadanov vs. Primus
Goltsov vs. Popov
The Prelims