Britain's Loughnane wins to reach $1m PFL final

Britain's Brendan Loughnane hit Kai Kamaka III by divided determination successful Washington DC to scope nan PFL Finals and nan opportunity to conflict for $1m (£756, 880).

Loughnane was narrowly out-struck by American featherweight Kamaka successful a highly method title but was nan much businesslike fighter, landing nan much damaging shots throughout.

The 34-year-old will conflict for his 2nd PFL featherweight title aft triumphing successful 2022 to go nan only Briton to triumph a loop successful nan promotion.

He will look Russian Timur Khizriev successful nan last aft he hit Brazil's Gabriel Braga by unanimous decision.

The 2024 PFL Finals will return spot later this year, pinch nan day and venue yet to beryllium confirmed.

Following a adjacent opening fewer minutes wherever nan brace traded limb kicks and accelerated punch combinations, Manchester's Loughnane took power pinch a spinning backmost footwear to nan assemblage which wounded Kamaka.

The changeable forced nan 29-year-old backmost away, but Loughnane closed nan distance, dropping him pinch a number of knees from nan clinch earlier being saved by nan bell.

That infinitesimal proved to beryllium nan astir important of nan conflict successful a adjacent title wherever nan brace traded aggregate combinations.

Kamaka did his champion activity pinch his hands, stepping successful to onshore speedy one-twos, while Loughnane excelled pinch his feet, continuing to onslaught pinch spinning backmost kicks and damaging nan American's calves pinch repeated strikes.

Two of nan judges scored nan conflict 29-28 apiece, earlier Loughnane raised his limb successful victory, guessing correctly he would beryllium announced arsenic nan victor erstwhile proceeding nan 3rd judge had ruled it 30-27 successful his favour.

Victory gave Loughnane nan 30th triumph of his 35-fight profession and ended Kamaka's five-fight triumph streak.

He is nan 2nd Mancunian to scope nan 2024 PFL Finals aft Dakota Ditcheva hit Jena Bishop earlier this month to scope nan women's flyweight showpiece.

Ditcheva tin go Britain's first female MMA world champion pinch victory, while Loughnane could go nan nation's first two-time PFL world champion.