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  • PFL Tips: Brendan Loughnane Battles Veteran Marlon Moraes In The Featherweight Main Event

PFL 1 tips: Brendan Loughnane battles veteran Marlon Moraes in the featherweight main event

Manchester’s Brendan Loughnane capped off his 2022 PFL season in emphatic style, stopping divisional rival Bubba Jenkins in the fourth to claim the featherweight tournament and its $1million prize.

Dana White once described Loughnane as "lacking heart" for the heinous crime of shooting for a takedown in a fight he was dominating. This supposed lack of heart cost Loughnane a spot in the UFC but put him on the road to PFL success. 

Loughnane returns to action in 2023 to defend his title, and his first assignment is UFC veteran and former WSOF bantamweight champion "Magic" Marlon Moraes.

Loughnane has been on fire in the PFL losing only once in his nine appearances. A split decision loss to eventual tournament winner Movlid Khaybulaev being the only blemish on an otherwise stellar record.

Despite a strong wrestling base, Loughnane is no slouch with his hands. The 33-year-old proved that when stopping Sheymon Moraes with two solid right hands, leading him to exclaim to his doubters.

Once one of the most feared men within the smaller weight classes, it has been a rough fall from grace for Moraes who is now winless in five bouts leading back to his 2019 clash with Jose Aldo. Moraes was finished by strikes in all five of those bouts including in his PFL debut against Sheymon Moraes.
A talented striker whose best days are perhaps behind him, Moraes has many marquee names on his resume including Aljamain Sterling, Jose Aldo and Jimmie Rivera.

This is a fight with two men going in opposite directions. Loughnane looks to become the PFL's star attraction during the prime of his career, whereas Moraes is looking to snap his five fight losing streak and prove he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Key Stats

Loughnane has won 75% of his PFL fights by decision.
Moraes hasn't been to a decision since his win over Jose Aldo in 2019.

Suggested Bet

Brendan Loughnane to win by KO/TKO
READ MORE: Dan Hardy believes 'sky is the limit' for Lewis McGrillen following spectacular PFL Europe display

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