Timur Khizriev did just about everything, but get a finish, as he battered and bloodied Brendan Loughnane over five rounds to claim the featherweight title in the 2024 PFL World Championships main event.
It was a dominant showcase from the undefeated Russian as he beat Loughnane in every facet of the game from striking to grappling across all five rounds. Khizriev never slowed down, especially after Loughnane started gushing blood out of his nose and that really explained how the entire fight played out.
The scorecards read 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 with Khizriev ending the 2024 PFL season with a unanimous decision win.
“That was a long and a tough road but with God’s help, I got here,” Khizriev said following his win. “I believed I picked apart my opponent. I knew everything he was going to do and today I was here to counter him.
“He is a former champion. He is a tough fighter. He took a lot of damage, and I was honestly surprised. He’s a tough dude.”
A spinning attack from Loughnane in the opening round led to a takedown from Khizriev as he dominated the former PFL champion from the top position. Khizriev didn’t slow down on the feet either as he established a powerful jab that continuously found a home on Loughnane’s nose.
The repeated blows opened a nasty gash on Loughnane’s face with Khizriev just targeting that wound with his punches. Khizriev was also connecting with a slick uppercut as he jumped into exchanges with Loughnane wearing a crimson mask as blood was just pouring down his face and body.
Loughnane’s movement was also labored with the PFL commentary team noting that perhaps something was wrong with his right knee because he was staying heavy on his lead left foot and never switching stances.
While Khizriev wasn’t throwing with much volume, he was continuously stabbing at Loughnane with his left jab and then following with a big right behind it. Khizriev also mixed in another late takedown as he just kept punishing Loughnane at every turn.
When time expired, Khizriev was covered in Loughnane’s sweat and blood — a definitive sign that he out worked and did far more damage than his opponent before winning a lopsided decision on the scorecards.
Now 18-0 in his career, Khizriev won every fight in 2024 in similar fashion, and he might look to do the same thing all over again in 2025 after winning a million dollars to close out his first season with the PFL.
