Brendan Loughnane says he’s already prepared for plenty of fighters with Bubba Jenkins’ style.
Loughnane (25-4) meets Jenkins (19-5) in the featherweight final at Friday’s 2022 PFL Championships at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Loughnane already has conquered the test when he topped standout wrestlers like Tyler Diamond and Chris Wade, and only has lost to Movlid Khaybulaev in his past 11 fights.
“I’ve fought so many wrestlers in the past now,” Loughnane told MMA Junkie. “Pretty much for the last 10 years, everyone I’ve fought has tried to take me down, so it’s nothing new. There’s only one guy that’s ever been successful at actually getting me down and controlling me on the ground for a round and that was Movlid.
“I don’t believe Bubba is Movlid, and I believe I’m going to impose my will on him. I believe I’m a better fighter than I was then, anyway. Pat Healy, I fought. I fought Tyler Diamond. I fought all these good, high-level wrestlers throughout my career, and nothing new. It’s another day at the office.”
Loughnane thinks Jenkins tends to tire as the fight goes on, and with five rounds to claim gold, the Brit thinks it only favors him.
“I’m embracing the five rounds,” Loughnane said. “I’ve always been a five-round fighter. I’m excited to get into them deep waters… I’m a five-round fighter, Bubba’s not, so I’ll prove that on the night.
“I was a 3-1 underdog. Everyone thought Wade was going to come to England and walk through me – again, another American wrestler that everyone thought was just going to take me down and hold me down. I don’t know when they’ll start learning that that’s not easy to do, and on Friday night, I will prove it again that it’s not a walk in the park to grab ahold of me.”
The 2022 PFL finals take place Friday at Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+.
