Brendan Loughnane: The Feud With Paddy Pimblett Continues to Fuel His Fire
Brendan Loughnane is no stranger to success in the world of MMA. He won the PFL featherweight tournament in 2022, taking home $1 million and the featherweight title. However, after suffering his first-ever career knockout loss, he did not make it to the postseason the following season. But now, Loughnane is back on top, sitting at the top of the featherweight standings in the current season after a first-round knockout against Pedro Carvalho at PFL 3.
But there’s more to this British star’s story than just his impressive fighting record. Ahead of his upcoming fight against Justin Gonzales at PFL 6, Loughnane opens up about his competitive feud with another well-known UFC lightweight contender, Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett.
The feud between these two fighters has been ongoing for years, and Loughnane has made it clear that a fight between the two needs to happen before their careers are over. “I know we’re both in different organizations and on different trajectories right now, but I genuinely believe that we cannot finish our careers without fighting each other, it’s just in there,” Loughnane recently told Kosport Magazine.
This feud between Loughnane and Pimblett may seem like just another case of trash talking between two rival fighters, but it runs deeper than that. Loughnane and Pimblett have both been on the rise in the MMA world for years, and their paths have constantly crossed. “We were both the guys coming up for years, don’t forget Paddy’s been in it as long as me, he’s a scouser and I’m a Manc, there is always going to be that,” Loughnane explains.
But despite the competitive nature of their feud, Loughnane has repeatedly emphasized that there is still a level of respect between him and Pimblett. “I do respect him because, at the end of the day, he’s just a guy trying to make a living for his family, like me,” he says.
And with both fighters looking to cement their legacies, a fight between Loughnane and Pimblett would be the ultimate showdown. Loughnane even suggests the possibility of fighting in Pimblett’s hometown of Liverpool, stating, “I would love to fight him in Liverpool, it would be mad.”
This highly-anticipated fight between the two British stars could potentially take place in Manchester, but not at the upcoming UFC 304 event as many fans hoped. Pimblett is set to take on UFC fan favorite Bobby Green, and a win could finally push him into the lightweight rankings.
But regardless of when and where this fight may happen, one thing is for sure: the feud between Loughnane and Pimblett continues to fuel Loughnane’s fire and passion for the sport. As he puts it, “It just became this big thing and then he kept winning and I kept winning and it just (continued) growing. It’s the end of a generation, me and him need to fight.” And the world of MMA eagerly awaits to see this long-standing feud come to a thrilling conclusion.
Kosport Magazine’s Take
Brendan Loughnane’s ongoing feud with Paddy Pimblett has captured the attention of the MMA world. But beyond the trash talk and competitive nature of their feud, there is still a level of respect and mutual understanding between these two talented fighters. With both looking to cement their legacies, a fight between Loughnane and Pimblett would be the ultimate showdown, and the world of MMA eagerly awaits to see this long-standing rivalry come to a thrilling conclusion.
