PFL 1 Reax: Brendan Loughnane Made A Statement

It would have been easy for Brendan Loughnane to come into 2023 not focused.

Loughnane had the biggest win of his career last year, claiming a cool $1 million and the PFL featherweight title.

But that is not who he is.

Instead, Loughnane went out and kicked off the 2023 season with a dominating second round finish of Marlon Moraes at PFL 1 this past weekend. The bout headlined the ESPN main card from Las Vegas and The Theater at Virgin Hotels.

The 33-year-old from Manchester, England is now 27-4 overall with wins in each of his last five fights. Loughnane is on a 12-1 run, with the lone loss being via split decision to Movlid Khaybulaev.

Khaybulaev would go on to win the 2021 PFL title and also opened his 2023 run with a win this past weekend. He topped Ryoji Kudo via decision to score three key points.

Joining those two as winners from the featherweight division were Bubba Jenkins, the most recent runner-up, Alejandro Flores and Gabriel Alves Braga.

The card was also a big showing for Robert Wilkinson, as the reigning light heavyweight champion downed former UFC title contender Thiago Santos in the co-main event.

Wilkinson has not lost since a 2018 defeat to former UFC champion Israel Adesanya. He is a perfect 5-0 with the PFL and on a seven-fight win streak overall to sit at 18-2.

Will Fleury, Marthin Hamlet, Joshua Silveira, Ty Flores and Impa Kasanganay were also winners in light heavyweight action.

Up next for the PFL will be heavyweights and female featherweights this Friday night. Larissa Pacheco and Bruno Cappelozza are reigning champions who will be in action.