Following his transition from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) this month, Irish bantamweight **Caolan Loughran** is aiming for high-profile matchups right away.
Loughran departed the UFC after fulfilling his four-fight contract. He has now chosen the PFL`s Smart Cage environment with plans to compete in next year`s World Tournament. Before the tournament begins, however, he intends to participate in at least two showcase fights, with one potential opponent being the 2024 European champion, Lewis McGrillen.
Reflecting on his time in the UFC, Loughran faced Jake Hadley at UFC 304 last summer, suffering a loss. Another fighter who holds a professional win over him, Taylor Lapilus, is scheduled to fight Ali Taleb on July 5th in Brussels.
Loughran Targets Three Key Opponents in PFL
After compiling a 2-2 record during his initial UFC contract, Caolan Loughran is eager to make an immediate impact in his new promotion. Inspired by the trajectory of fellow Irishman Paul Hughes, Loughran`s strategy involves taking on significant opponents early in his PFL tenure before entering the 2025 World Tournament.
In an exclusive interview, Loughran identified his top three desired opponents: “Sergio Pettis, **Raufeon Stots**, and **Magomed Magomedov** are the three biggest names I would say.” He noted that Pettis is a former Bellator champion, while Magomedov trains alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov`s team in Dagestan.
Regarding Stots, Loughran commented, “Raufeon isn’t really that big of a name but I think he’s one of the best bantamweights in the world. He got knocked out by Patchy Mix but it was kind of a weird shot the way the knee came up, it could happen to anyone. Then he got spinning backfist-ed in the first five seconds by Merab Dvalishvili, absolutely insane.”
He acknowledged Stots`s age, stating, “He’s coming up on 38 now, though.” Loughran has been closely observing the PFL bantamweight division, particularly this year`s tournament, which he described as “world class” and potentially the best opening round he`s seen.
“Look, I’d fight them all, I’m hoping to make my debut in Brussels on July 5, but I’m watching it all. Even old fights from Pettis against Patchy and Pitbull and all these guys. I’d like to fight Sergio.”
Clarifying His UFC Departure
When reports surfaced suggesting Loughran had been released by the UFC, leading to concerned messages from fans, he was quick to set the record straight. With two wins, including his most recent bout, a sudden release would have appeared unusual for a fighter still progressing.
Loughran clarified that he was not cut but simply reached the end of his standard four-fight agreement, which he signed coming out of Cage Warriors. Upon the completion of this contract, he became a sought-after free agent, leading to a “bidding war” among multiple promotions.
He stated that discussions with UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby were positive, and he wants to maintain a good relationship with the promotion, especially as his brother Tiarnan aspires to fight in the UFC one day. However, the PFL, specifically mentioning Dan Hardy`s involvement, presented a compelling offer.
Numerous promotions showed interest, with some offering lucrative opportunities like a potential fight against Muhammad Mokaev in Dubai. Ultimately, Loughran`s decision was swiftly made based on PFL`s vision and plan for his career development.
Loughran found the period of receiving calls from various promotions “great craic.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to clarify his situation, particularly after the news of his UFC departure broke while he had already committed to the PFL. He received messages of concern akin to a family loss, which he found surprising but acknowledged as part of the unpredictable nature of the fight game.
Gareth Pendleton