‘I was snubbed by Dana White and the UFC – but still became a millionaire’

Brendan Loughnane says that he is “most definitely” in a better position after being overlooked by the five years ago. The 34-year-old mixed martial artist from has been making a splash in the Professional Fighters League since his debut in October 2019.

However, his journey took a significant turn just four months earlier when UFC President Dana White decided against offering him a contract in the big leagues. Loughnane had been given the chance to showcase his skills on the Contender Series in June, where he faced Bill Algeo at featherweight and secured a unanimous decision victory at the Apex in Las Vegas.

Despite his dominant performance, White was not convinced, choosing not to bring Loughnane into the UFC fold. Reflecting on the fight, White pinpointed Loughnane’s late takedown attempt as the deal-breaker. When pressed by media if that was the crucial moment, White confirmed: “100 per cent.

“They literally showed it on TV tonight – when he double-legged, I threw my pen and went, ‘You’ve gotta be s***ing me. Did he just double-leg him with less than 10 seconds left in the fight?’ Listen, that kid is absolutely going to compete in the UFC someday; he’s got the record, he’s got the skills, he’s got the great story.

“I think he’s hilarious. Just not tonight, man. Not tonight.” Loughnane had previously stepped into the octagon for the UFC back in 2012, making a singular appearance where he faced defeat by unanimous decision against Mike Wilkinson. Following two missed shots at joining the UFC, Loughnane conceded that his outlook on his MMA career needed a rapid realignment, necessitating quick thinking to keep his aspirations alive.

In an exclusive chat with , Loughnane shared: “I had no idea. My whole plan got shifted, and I had to figure it out on the spot.” The resilient fighter eventually made his mark with the PFL shortly after triumphing in the Contender Series, and has since established himself within the promotion – a move which turned out to be more lucrative than what he might have earned in UFC over five years.

He shared: “I ended up with the PFL and we’re five years deep with each other now, and we’ve done great business together.” Reflecting on his UFC snub, he asserted: “Frustrating at the time, but in hindsight, it’s made me a multi-millionaire, so I’m pretty happy. I mean, I’m most definitely better off in the PFL, trust me on that.”

Loughnane boasts an impressive 29-5 record and secured the PFL’s featherweight championship in 2022 with a fourth-round TKO victory over Bubba Jenkins, pocketing a cool £787,000 ($1million) for his efforts. The fighter is set to potentially repeat that financial success this Friday when he steps into the finals of the PFL featherweight championships against the undefeated Timur Khizriev (17-0) at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh.

The fighter has punched his ticket to the finals with a series of dominant performances, including a ground-and-pound triumph over Pedro Carvalho, a doctor’s stoppage win against Justin Gonzales, and a split-decision victory over Kai Kamaka. Reflecting on his journey to the finals, Loughnane said: “I think the level of competition this year has been higher, but I just think I’ve been a better fighter.”

At 34, Loughnane feels he’s hitting his stride, armed with experience and a belief in his abilities as a tournament fighter. Looking ahead to his bout with Khizriev, who has yet to taste defeat, Loughnane confidently shared: “I think I stop him. I think he’s gonna get tired, try to take me down, and I think I stop him in the later rounds like I did with Bubba Jenkins. Same story.”

Khizriev boasts an unblemished record, with three KO/TKO victories, one submission, and 13 decision wins accumulated over his decade-long career. As a skilled grappler from Dagestan, it remains to be seen whether Loughnane can successfully defend against his takedowns and gain the upper hand in the striking department.