‘Could Smoke Topuria’ – Fans React As Unbeaten Timur Khizriev Beats Brendan Loughnane To Win 2024 PFL Featherweight Title

Timur Khizriev put a beating on former PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane to capture this year’s 145-pound gold in the main event of the 2024 PFL World Championship. Khizriev established dominance early with consistent kicks, eventually securing a takedown. On the ground, he pressured and smothered Loughnane, leaving little room for the former champ to […]

Timur Khizriev put a beating on former PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane to capture this year’s 145-pound gold in the main event of the 2024 PFL World Championship.

Khizriev established dominance early with consistent kicks, eventually securing a takedown. On the ground, he pressured and smothered Loughnane, leaving little room for the former champ to do offense.

The Russian continued to outstrike him in the second round, mixing in precise jabs and hard combinations. The British standout found brief success wtih a check hook, but Khizriev’s pressure and accuracy left him a bloodied mess by the round’s end.

The undefeated grappling specialist continued his offense before scoring another takedown. Loughnane continued to batted back to his feet and went toe-to-toe with Khizriev at times, but the Russian’s jab continued to be his key.

This pace continued the championship rounds, with Khizriev’s striking wearing Loughnane out and his grappling pressure proving to lock up his control of the fight.

One judge gave Khizriev a sweep, while the other gave him the fight 49-46.

Timur Khizriev Dominates Brendan Loughnane To Become 2024 PFL Featherweight Champion

Khizriev, the former Wushu Sanda champion, made it to the championship bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with wins over Brett Johns, Enrique Barzola, and Gabriel Braga earlier this year.

Loughnane, meanwhile, became PFL featherweight champion in 2022 but was upset by Jesus Pinedo in 2023. He made it to his second PFL final today with wins over Pedro Carvalho, Justin Gonzales, and Kai Kamaka III during the regular season.

2024 PFL World Championship Results & Highlights: Khizriev Dominates Loughnane, Ditcheva Stops Santos

The 2024 PFL World Championship took place on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action! This week saw the Professional Fighters League back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to crown its title winners for this year — both PFL Global and PFL MENA — following the conclusion of the regular season and […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship took place on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

This week saw the Professional Fighters League back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to crown its title winners for this year — both PFL Global and PFL MENA — following the conclusion of the regular season and semifinals.

After a set of showcase bouts featuring the likes of Costello van Steenis, Slim Trabelsi, and Mansour Barnaoui, four inaugural kings were crowned as part of the promotion’s Middle East and North Africa expansion.

The main card followed, with six fighters on the global roster walking away with championship gold and $1 million in prize money.

Brendan Loughnane and Impa Kasanganay both failed in their bid to experience that for the second time, with the featherweight suffering a lopsided five-round loss to Timur Khizriev in the main event and the light heavyweight standout falling victim to Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov’s power in under a minute.

Perhaps the most intriguing clash on the lineup came in the co-headliner, meanwhile, as the undefeated Dakota Ditcheva faced the toughest test of her blossoming career thus far. She ultimately followed her PFL Europe success last year with global glory, getting the better of former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in shockingly dominant fashion.

With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the best highlights.

2024 PFL World Championship Results

PFL World Championship Card:

  • Featherweight Championship: Timur Khizriev def. Brendan Loughnane via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva def. Taila Santos via TKO (body punches): R2, 4:41
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (punches): R1, 0:58
  • Welterweight Championship: Shamil Musaev def. Magomed Umalatov via TKO (punches): R3, 1:44
  • Lightweight Championship: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Brent Primus via KO (punches): R3, 2:31
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov def. Oleg Popov via submission (triangle choke): R1, 2:51

PFL MENA Championship Card:

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. Maraoune Bellagouit via TKO: R1
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Omar El Dafrawy def. Mohammad Alaqraa via KO (hammerfists): R2, 0:57
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif def. Lilia Osmani via TKO (knees): R2, 1:37
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb def. Rachid El Hazoume via KO (punches): R1, 1:25
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Georges Eid via unanimous decision

Showcase Fight Card:

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui def. Alfie Davis via submission (rear-naked choke): R3, 3:41
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi def. Abraham Bably via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Featherweight: Gabriel Braga def. Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj def. Jose Perez via submission (guillotine choke): R3, 1:10
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis def. Joao Dantas via KO (head kick): R1, 0:48

Costello van Steenis Def. Joao Dantas

Asael Adjoudj Def. Jose Perez

Gabriel Braga Def. Jeremy Kennedy

Slim Trabelsi Def. Abraham Bably

Mansour Barnaoui Def. Alfie Davis

Mohsen Mohammadseifi Def. Georges Eid

Ali Taleb Def. Rachid El Hazoume

Hattan Alsaif Def. Lilia Osmani

Omar El Dafrawy Def. Mohammad Alaqraa

Abdullah Al-Qahtani Def. Maraoune Bellagouit

Denis Goltsov Def. Oleg Popov

Gadzhi Rabadanov Def. Brent Primus

Shamil Musaev Def. Magomed Umalatov

Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov Def. Impa Kasanganay

Dakota Ditcheva Def. Taila Santos

Timur Khizriev Def. Brendan Loughnane

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

In the main event. England’s Brendan Loughnane will shoot for his second title in the SmartCage, having previously emerged with gold in his possession at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

To repeat that feat, he must upset the odds to hand 17-0 Russian Timur Khizriev his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts.

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup comes in the co-headliner as another UK standout challenges for season glory. Striking specialist Dakota Ditcheva will get her toughest test to date, with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marking the latest looking to take her ‘0’ inside the cage.

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (144.8lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (124.9lbs) vs. Taila Santos (125lbs)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (204.6lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1lbs)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (168.8lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8lbs)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (154.3lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155lbs)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (245.8lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5lbs)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Maraoune Bellagouit (144.8lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.4lbs)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170lbs)
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (105.4lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3lbs)**
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (134lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8lbs)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155lbs)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (153.6lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (243.5lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8lbs)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (152lbs)* vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (145.9lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145lbs)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (185.9lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185lbs)

*Jesus Pinedo missed the featherweight limit by 6 pounds, replaced by Gabriel Braga

**Lilia Osmani missed the atomweight limit by 2.3 pounds, fight to proceed at catchweight of 109 pounds

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

In the main event. England’s Brendan Loughnane will shoot for his second title in the SmartCage, having previously emerged with gold in his possession at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

To repeat that feat, he must upset the odds to hand 17-0 Russian Timur Khizriev his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts.

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup comes in the co-headliner as another UK standout challenges for season glory. Striking specialist Dakota Ditcheva will get her toughest test to date, with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marking the latest looking to take her ‘0’ inside the cage.

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (144.8lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (124.9lbs) vs. Taila Santos (125lbs)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (204.6lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1lbs)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (168.8lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8lbs)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (154.3lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155lbs)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (245.8lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5lbs)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Maraoune Bellagouit (144.8lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.4lbs)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170lbs)
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (105.4lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3lbs)**
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (134lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8lbs)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155lbs)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (153.6lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (243.5lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8lbs)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (152lbs)* vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (145.9lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145lbs)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (185.9lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185lbs)

*Jesus Pinedo missed the featherweight limit by 6 pounds, replaced by Gabriel Braga

**Lilia Osmani missed the atomweight limit by 2.3 pounds, fight to proceed at catchweight of 109 pounds

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

In the main event. England’s Brendan Loughnane will shoot for his second title in the SmartCage, having previously emerged with gold in his possession at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

To repeat that feat, he must upset the odds to hand 17-0 Russian Timur Khizriev his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts.

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup comes in the co-headliner as another UK standout challenges for season glory. Striking specialist Dakota Ditcheva will get her toughest test to date, with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marking the latest looking to take her ‘0’ inside the cage.

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (144.8lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (124.9lbs) vs. Taila Santos (125lbs)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (204.6lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1lbs)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (168.8lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8lbs)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (154.3lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155lbs)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (245.8lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5lbs)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Maraoune Bellagouit (144.8lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.4lbs)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170lbs)
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (105.4lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3lbs)**
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (134lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8lbs)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155lbs)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (153.6lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (243.5lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8lbs)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (152lbs)* vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (145.9lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145lbs)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (185.9lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185lbs)

*Jesus Pinedo missed the featherweight limit by 6 pounds, replaced by Gabriel Braga

**Lilia Osmani missed the atomweight limit by 2.3 pounds, fight to proceed at catchweight of 109 pounds

PFL World Championship Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Loughnane vs. Khizriev, Ditcheva vs. Santos, & More

The 2024 PFL World Championship is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this week’s long lineup. The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this week’s long lineup.

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

At the lengthy event, plenty of gold will be handed out as the latest global champions and the inaugural MENA kingpins are crowned following the conclusion of this year’s regular seasons.

And the headlining spots have gone to a pair of British standouts, with 2022 featherweight title winner Brendan Loughnane shooting for two-time status in the main event opposite Timur Khizriev. Before that comes a matchup long pointed to as one of the most intriguing in the promotion, as last year’s PFL Europe flyweight queen Dakota Ditcheva meets former UFC title challenger Taila Santos.

Also competing for championships will be the likes of Impa Kasnaganay, Brent Primus, and Denis Goltsov, while notable names like Mansour Bernaoui, Slim Trabelsi, Jesus Pinedo and Costello van Steenis will appear in showcase bouts.

2024 PFL World Championship Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for this year’s PFL World Championship (as of 11/27), courtesy of DraftKings.

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (+260) vs. Timur Khizriev (-325)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (-380) vs. Taila Santos (+300)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (-180) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (+150)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (+220) vs. Shamil Musaev (-270)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (+410) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (-550)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (+110) vs. Oleg Popov (-130)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat (-115) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (-105)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (-410) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (+320)
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (-290) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (+235)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (-218) vs. Georges Eid (+180)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (-298) vs. Alfie Davis (+240)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (-148) vs. Abraham Bably (+124)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (-290) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (+235)
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (-142) vs. Jose Perez (+120)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (-625) vs. Joao Dantas (+455)