'I was cruelly denied a UFC contract by Dana White - I became a millionaire without him'

Brendan Loughnane had dreams of warring nether the UFC banner erstwhile helium bested Bill Algeo connected Dana White's Contender Series backmost successful June 2019 - lone to beryllium snubbed by the brag contempt his victory

Brendan Loughnane has admitted helium is "most definitely" amended disconnected because the UFC snubbed him 5 years ago.

The 34-year-old Manchester autochthonal has made waves with the Professional Fighters League since making his debut with the promotion successful October 2019, but it was lone 4 months anterior that helium was cruelly denied a UFC declaration by Dana White. Like galore up-and-coming fighters, Loughnane was invited to vie successful the Contender Series successful June and matched up with present 18-9 Bill Algeo astatine featherweight.

Loughnane dominated the combat from the outset and throughout, clinching a unanimous determination triumph for his efforts astatine the Apex successful Las Vegas. However, the UFC president was seemingly unimpressed by his performance, opting not to grant him a declaration to combat nether the starring MMA promotion.

Speaking astatine the time, White explained that Loughnane's determination to sprout for a takedown successful the past 10 seconds of the combat was what made his caput up to contradict the combatant a spot connected the large show. When asked if it was the deciding origin by media, helium explained: "100 per cent. They virtually showed it connected TV contiguous - erstwhile helium double-legged, I threw my pen and went, 'You've gotta beryllium s***ing me. Did helium conscionable double-leg him with little than 10 seconds near successful the fight?'"

He added: "Listen, that kid is perfectly going to vie successful the UFC someday; he's got the record, he's got the skills, he's got the large story. I deliberation he's hilarious. Just not tonight, man. Not tonight." The lawsuit wasn't the archetypal clip Loughnane had fought successful beforehand of White either, making a sole quality successful the UFC backmost successful 2012 erstwhile helium mislaid via unanimous determination to Mike Wilkinson.

With 2 missed opportunities, Loughnane explained that his plans successful presumption of MMA were wholly shifted and that helium had to deliberation connected his feet to proceed to pursuit his dreams. Speaking exclusively with Mirror Fighting, Loughnane said: "I had nary idea. My full program got shifted, and I had to fig it retired connected the spot."

The combatant yet recovered a location with the PFL conscionable months aft his Contender Series win, and has been a portion of the promotion ever since - arguably going connected to marque acold much wealth present than helium would person implicit the people of 5 years with the UFC.

He added: "I ended up with the PFL and we're 5 years heavy with each different now, and we've done large concern together." On his UFC rejection, helium added: "Frustrating astatine the time, but successful hindsight, it's made maine a multi-millionaire, truthful I'm beauteous happy," earlier continuing: "I mean, I'm astir decidedly amended disconnected successful the PFL, spot maine connected that."

With an wide grounds of 29-5, Loughnane won the PFL's featherweight championships successful 2022 courtesy of a fourth-round TKO implicit Bubba Jenkins - an accolade which carried a hefty £787,000 ($1million) prize. The combatant has the accidental to drawback the aforesaid sum connected Friday evening erstwhile helium returns to the finals of the PFL featherweight championships to instrumentality connected an undefeated Timur Khizriev (17-0) astatine the King Saud University Stadium successful Riyadh.

Loughnane's stellar striking has propelled him into the finals, besting Pedro Carvalho via crushed and pound, achieving a doctor's stoppage implicit Justin Gonzales, and bagging a split-decision triumph implicit Kai Kamaka to cement his spot successful the final. Speaking connected his roadworthy to Riyadh, Loughnane admitted: "I deliberation the level of contention this twelvemonth has been higher, but I conscionable deliberation I've been a amended fighter.

"I conscionable consciousness similar I'm coming into my premier astatine 34 years of age, each the acquisition nether my loop present - and I consciousness similar I'm a genuine tourney combatant now." Speaking connected however helium believes helium gets the occupation done against a antheral who cipher has been capable to get the amended of successful Khizriev, Loughnane added: "I deliberation I halt him.

"I deliberation he's gonna get tired, effort to instrumentality maine down, and I deliberation I halt him successful the aboriginal rounds similar I did with Bubba Jenkins. Same Story." With a flawless record, Khizriev has achieved 3 KO/TKO wins, 1 submission and 13 decisions implicit the people of his 10-year vocation to date. A renowned grappler from Dagestan, it volition beryllium absorbing to spot if Loughnane tin worldly his takedowns and get the amended of him connected the feet.