Brendan Loughnane has made a name for himself in MMA’s featherweight scene and especially the PFL since his arrival to the promotion in 2019. After reaching the PFL Semifinals in 2021, Loughnane ended up capping a memorable 2022 by finishing Bubba Jenkins to become that year’s PFL Featherweight World Champion. Loughnane was off to a great start in 2023 with a win over Marlon Moraes but was knocked out in upset fashion by eventual Champion Jesus Pinedo. Following wins over Pedro Carvalho and Justin Gonzales in the 2024 Regular Season, Loughnane hopes that after tonight, he will be one step closer to becoming a two-time PFL World Champion.

 

Kai Kamaka, the cousin to 2x PFL World Champion Ray Cooper III, has competed for various noteworthy promotions since making his professional debut in 2012. Kamaka, a wrestling expert who fights out of Xtreme Couture, went 6-2-1 in Bellator between two stints with the promotion before joining the PFL. Kamaka reached the postseason off strong decision wins over former finalist Bubba Jenkins and former Bellator title challenger Pedro Carvalho.

 

Who will go on and square off with Timur Khizriev in this year’s PFL Featherweight Title fight?

 

 

Round 1

 

Left hand from Loughnane. Low kick from Kamaka. And repeat. Leg kick by Loughnane. Leg kick Kamaka. Jab by Loughnane. Loughnane misses a back kick. Kamaka lands a jab and misses a big hook. Calf kick from Loughnane. Trading leg kicks. Leg kick by Kamaka. Loughnane misses the jab. Jab from Kamaka misses. Spinning back kick to the body by Loughnane. Kamaka with a low kick and a body punch. Loughnane goes back to the leg. Right cross by Kamaka. Leg kick by Loughnane.

 

Left hand from Loughnane and another Kamaka low kick. Combination from Kamaka. Left hand from Loughnane. Kamaka targeting the body. The two trade leg kicks in a clash. Left hand from Loughnane. Low kick and a combination from Loughnane, but Kamaka answers with a counter combination. Low kick from Loughnane. One-two from Loughnane. Low kick from Loughnane. Spinning back kick to the body backs Kamaka up. Loughnane goes for combinations with Kamka’s back to the fence. Loughnane letting out a flurry! Kamaka is done! Loughnane rains down some right hands, but Kamaka survives the round!

 

 

 

Round 2

 

Loughnane with a low kick. One-two from Kamaka. Combination from Kamaka. Body kick from Kamaka. Jab from Loughnane. Loughnane catches a body kick attempt from Loughnane. Right hand from Kamaka. Low kick from Loughnane. Low kick from Loughnane again. Inside shots from Kamaka. Low kick from Kamaka. One-two from Kamaka. Spinning back kick by Loughnane but it clips the cup. After a brief time out, the two go back to it. Both men landing strong right hands. Left hand from Kamaka. Kamaka with a combination.

 

Loughnane landing a few low kicks. One-two from Kamaka. Low kick from Loughnane. Both men with jabs. Heavy leg kick from Loughnane. Some feints and stance switches from both men before they go back to their strikes. Another spinning back kick to the body. Low kick from Kamaka. One-two by Kamaka. Loughnane goes for a body lock, but Kamaka shoves him off. High kick from Loughnane is blocked. Right hand lands for Kamaka. Kamaka delivers a combination in the middle of the SmartCage. Loughnane’s high kick attempt is blocked again. Another high kick.

 

 

Round 3

 

Both men throw to start the round. Kamaka with a body kick. Both landing jabs. One-two from Kamaka. One-two from Kamaka. Loughnane goes for a body lock, but Kamaka lands a knee and gets out of it. Loughnane lands an inside three-punch combination. More inside shots from Loughnane. Kamaka tries to respond. Loughnane’s kick is blocked. Low kick from Loughnane, and Kamaka answers with a left hand. A pair of lefts from Kamaka, but Loughnane moves out of range. Front kick by Loughnane. Kamaka with a combination. Loughnane with a high kick that is blocked.

 

Kamaka dodges at first, but he eats a combination from Loughnane anyway. One-two from Kamaka. Takedown attempt from Loughnane, but Kamaka sprawls and stops it. Kamaka with a strong jab. Loughnane lands a jab. Kamaka lands a left hand. Loughnane with a pair of jabs. Body kick from Loughnane. Right hand from Loughnane. The two trading jabs and straights. Side kick to the body from Loughnane. Back kick from Loughnane with just a minute left. The two trade inside. Lead hook by Kamaka, and he just misses the knee. Low kick and a straight left from Loughnane. Spinning back kick by Loughnane. Kamaka with a right hand. Loughnane with a high kick. Spinning back kick by Loughnane again right before the horn.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Brendan Loughnane defeats Kai Kamaka by split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) in the PFL Featherweight Semifinals, earning a spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship. He’ll face Timur Khizriev for the PFL Featherweight belt and $1 million.

 

PFL Featherweight Championship

#1 Brendan Loughnane vs. #3 Timur Khizriev

 

  • Loughnane will fight to win his 2nd PFL title, having won the 2022 PFL Featherweight title with a dramatic 4th round TKO over Bubba Jenkins
  • Loughnane rebounds from his disappointing finish last year, when he was eliminated in the Regular Season by eventual champion Jesus Pinedo
  • Loughnane moves his career record to 30-5