Why Brendan Loughnane is brimming with confidence heading into 2022 PFL 2

The biggest takeaway for Brendan Loughnane from PFL’s last season is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Loughnane (21-4) was one of the standout performers in 2021, scoring a first-round knockout of Sheymon Moraes then outlasting Tyler Diamond in an all-out war.

But ultimately, the confident Brit was eliminated by eventual featherweight champion Movlid Khaybulaev in the semifinals, putting an end to his season. Heading into this year, Loughnane has approached things differently, which has him brimming with confidence.

“Come January, I was straight in it, went to Thailand, did three months. I was actually in Petr Yan’s camp for his fight with Aljo,” Loughnane told MMA Junkie Radio. “I was training with all the Soviet guys, and that was an insane experience, and I really took to my strength and conditioning, which I just completely neglected for the whole season just because I didn’t want to put on too much weight.

“So I did an actual camp for this one, and it felt good to do a real camp again, like not where you’re just rushing in between fights, so I’ve really learned from last season. I’m just gonna maintain in between each fight now. Like for example, after Sheymon, on the Monday morning I was back doing sprints, and your body needs a rest after a fight. I just didn’t know what to do, so I’ve learned the format now, and I feel like this year, after looking up and down the roster, there’s no one that can lace my boots, and it’s my season this one.”

To kick off this year’s campaign, Loughnane meets Ryoji Kudo (10-2-1) on Thursday at 2022 PFL 2, which takes place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, with the main card also streaming on ESPN+ and airing on ESPN 2 at 9 p.m. ET.