Caolan Loughran has announced his transition to the PFL, confirming his release from the UFC came despite securing a victory in his final fight for the promotion.
His stint with the premier MMA organization involved four fights, marked by controversy. Loughran finished with a 2-2 record, partly due to accepting fights on short notice. His performances didn`t always resonate with fans in the UK or France. Notably, he was involved in a widely reported altercation with fellow fighter Paddy Pimblett on a bus leading up to UFC 304.
Nevertheless, as a former Cage Warriors titleholder boasting a significant fanbase in Ireland, Loughran`s availability made him a desirable signing once his departure from the UFC was official. During an event in Belfast on Saturday evening, he publicly announced that he had signed a deal with the PFL.
Loughran Explains Departure from UFC and Move to PFL
The official announcement of Loughran`s PFL signing on Saturday evening was less prominent than planned, reportedly due to a broadcast issue. The original plan was for him to be announced by commentators Dan Hardy and Sean O`Connell. Alternatively, if Lewis McGrillen won the co-main event, he was meant to call out Loughran for a face-off inside the cage.
However, following his victory, McGrillen chose not to issue the expected challenge, leaving Loughran without the significant moment planned for his hometown appearance. Speaking later, Loughran commented: “I was very disappointed, but then Paul Hughes came out, and it was Paul’s night.”
He added, “I didn’t want to detract from his moment. They asked me to get into the cage after the fight, and I firmly declined, saying ‘absolutely not, this is Paul’s night’.”
Despite the low-key announcement, his signing is confirmed. Loughran is scheduled for two showcase fights this year before entering the PFL`s World tournament next year. Although he secured a win in his final UFC bout, he was not offered a new contract upon completing his standard initial four-fight agreement.
Loughran elaborated: “I had a four-fight contract with the UFC, and I completed it. I was coming off a significant win, and without going into excessive detail, they presented some resistance which I found unfavorable.”
“Then PFL entered the picture,” he continued. “Even just today, the way I was treated upon arrival made me feel genuinely valued. At the time, I believed I had made the correct choice, and after tonight, I am absolutely certain it was the right decision.”
Loughran Vindicates Himself Against Paddy Pimblett`s Claims Following Bus Incident
The aforementioned incident occurred in July of the previous year during a bus ride en route to the UFC 304 ceremonial weigh-ins. Loughran and Pimblett, representing rival gyms Team Kaobon and Next Gen Liverpool respectively, have a long-standing animosity rooted in the competition between their coaching staff and training partners.
During the confrontation, Pimblett reportedly asserted that Loughran would be knocked out by the then-undefeated prospect Luke Riley, who was being considered for Dana White`s Contender Series. Pimblett also brought up an amateur bout between Loughran and Nathan Fletcher, claiming Loughran had been “schooled” in that fight.
Nevertheless, Loughran managed to avenge these claims and secure a victory against Pimblett`s team by defeating Nathan Fletcher via split decision at UFC London. While the outcome was met with some disapproval from the live audience, it represented a significant win for Loughran within his ongoing rivalry with the popular Liverpool fighter.
Rupert Hartwell