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I proved Dana White wrong by becoming world champion after brutal UFC rejection – now I’m set for my second $1million fight

Brendan Loughnane turned one of the most high-profile rejections of his career into a $1 million run to world title glory.

The hard-hitting featherweight was told he wasn't doing enough to earn a spot in the UFC after defeating Bill Algeo on Dana White's Contender Series in 2019. He infamously shot for a takedown to secure the win, in instead of pushing for a finish after a hard-fought victory.

White was outraged by his decision at the time and decided to punish him by refusing to sign him up for a contract. But that choice ultimately backfired, as Loughnane won gold under the PFL banner and became one of the sport's biggest names outside of the top promotion.

Brendan Loughnane was rejected by Dana White in 2019

Seven years after his first bite at the UFC Christmas via The Ultimate Fighter, Brendan Loughnane got another shot on the sport's biggest stage in 2019. On the June 18, 2019 episode of Contender Series, he took on Bill Algeo, who ironically ended up in the promotion itself.

The problem discovered with the Brit's performance came in the final stages when Loughnane, instead of pushing for a finish, guaranteed a win with a safe shot for a takedown. It ultimately cost him his spot on the roster.

Photo by Chris Unger/DWCS LLC

“It's not even about the finish,” Dana White said at the time. “You have ten seconds left in the fight. Show us you want to win. Show us how much you want it. There is no doubt about what this show is about. These aren't Saturday night fights, and you're in the UFC.

'I'm there, we're watching and we want to see what you have. You don't do double legs when the 10 second thing claps. That's not what I'm looking for. This man is talented. He's a good fighter. He put up a good fight. He's not what I was looking for that night. Period. End of story.”

Brendan Loughnane signed with PFL and became $1 million champion

Rather than lick his wounds, Lougnane opted to move on to the promotion that would give him the most activity in the PFL. The competitive season, then an untested format, offered him the potential of four fights a year, with a $1 million prize at the end.

Coronavirus restrictions slowed his initial ambitions, but in 2022, when the world was open again, he went hunting for gold. That included wins over Ryoji Kudo and Ago Huskic, as well as his bitter rival Chris Wade.

In the finals in New York City, the Manchester native faced off against famed wrestler Bubba Jenkins and put on the performance of his life to earn a fourth-round KO. This made him a millionaire and completely validated his decision to choose the PFL.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

“The whole Contender Series thing, at the time I thought it was the worst thing that ever happened to me,” Loughnane told Bloody Elbow this summer. 'Now it turns out that it was actually the best thing that ever happened to me. I mean, I made a fortune, an absolute fortune.

“I won a world title at Madison Square Garden, I changed my family's lives, at that moment I thought 'wow, where do I go from here? PFL didn't even exist at the time, it was just starting and it was like 'where are you going?'

“But I found a house, me and the company worked together. I am forever grateful for this place, what a great place to fight.

Now Brendan Loughnane has a shot at even more gold and another $1 million

After losing a shocking showdown in Atlanta against Jesus Pinedo in the second regular season fight of the 2023 season, it was uncertain when Loughnane would return. He's a big enough name to warrant superfight status, but he's opted to give the global season another try this year.

He started his season with finishes of Justin Gonzales and Pedro Carvalho before taking the distance from Kai Kamaka III. Meanwhile, Timur Khizriev continued his winning streak on the other side of the bracket and reached the final.

Now Loughnane faces a tough test in the undefeated Russian, who defeated Brett Johns, Enrique Barzola and Gabriel Braga on his way to the final. His opponent has needed the scorecards for all his fights since coming to America, while the Brit is known for pushing for a finish.

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