Though it’s solely late June, we’ve bought some finality on this MMA weekend. Friday marks the final PFL card in its 2024 common season. After Friday evening, all six playoff brackets might be locked in, save for any playoff alternates who have to tag in attributable to accidents.
This week, the SmartCage touches down in Sioux Falls, SD and the Sanford Pentagon for PFL 6. It’s the ultimate likelihood for welterweights and featherweights to attain factors within the standings to qualify for postseason motion. Winners advance to PFL 9 on Aug. 23 in Washington, DC from The Anthem.
Reside protection kicks off at 6:30 pm ET/ 3:30 pm PT on ESPN+ earlier than persevering with at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN correct, with this programming observe for these intending to observe on linear tv: The ten pm ET begin time for ESPN is approximate, contingent upon the size of the primary spherical of this 12 months’s NHL Draft.
Featherweights Do Battle to Wrap Up Common Season
All advised, barring any additional postponements or changes to Friday’s slate, the ultimate model of PFL 6 options 11 fights. Highlighting the evening is the ultimate contest of the common season within the PFL 6 important occasion at 145 lbs.
Brendan Loughnane (28-5 MMA, 1-0 2024 PFL, six factors within the standings) faces off towards Justin Gonzales (14-4 MMA, 0-1 2024 PFL, zero factors within the standings.) As with all PFL fights by means of the semifinals, the PFL 6 important occasion is an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
If the season had been to finish at present, Loughnane would stake declare to the No. 1 seed within the bracket by advantage of getting a sooner first-round end (1:26) than the second-place fighter, Gabriel Braga (4:59.)
It’s about that point once more @BrendanMMA 👊
B2YB @FUJISportsUS
[#PFLRegularSeason | Fri, Jun 28th | 6:30pm ET on ESPN+ | 10pm ET on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/JIA1pPrRQV
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 25, 2024
PFL 6 Major Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Heading into the PFL 6 important occasion on Friday evening, each of those males stand degree in peak at 5-foot-9 with similar reaches of 71 inches. Gonzales owns a three-inch leg attain benefit (40 inches to 37 inches) over Loughnane.
At the moment, the oddsmakers have Brendan Loughnane put in as a -500 favourite on the cash line, with Justin Gonzales countering as a +380 underdog. In the event you plan on betting on this or some other combat occurring this weekend in MMA or fight sports activities, please wager responsibly.
Loughnane Correcting Previous Errors Throughout 2024 PFL Season
Brendan Loughnane enters the PFL 6 important occasion having posted a report of 4-1 in his final 5 MMA fights. Again in April of this 12 months, the 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion scored a first-round knockout (straight proper adopted by floor and pound) towards Pedro Carvalho (13-9 MMA, 0-1 PFL 2024, zero factors within the standings) throughout PFL 3 to internet himself first place for the second.
Just lately, Loughnane talked with USA At present’s MMA Junkie concerning the classes discovered from the 2023 PFL season.
“In the event you bear in mind rightly, I used to be in the identical place final 12 months and ended up getting knocked out,” the previous champion started. “I took my eye off the ball and thought I used to be already within the semis. I’ll be ensuring to not make that mistake once more. I’ve actually, actually discovered from that have and I’ve undoubtedly not [taken] my foot off the pedal or off the gasoline or eye off the ball. I’ll be trying ahead to getting in there and one other secure, wholesome camp.”
Loughnane had 5 factors going into his PFL 4 bout final 12 months towards Jesus Pinedo. A shocking first-round knockout loss meant he’d watch the playoffs on TV from dwelling in England. Will he clinch a spot within the playoffs this 12 months? Tune into the PFL 6 important occasion and discover out.
Can Gonzales Cease Skid?
Within the different nook, Justin Gonzales has gone 2-3 in his final 5 fights. In the mean time, he’s on a three-fight dropping streak.
Final outing, he sustained a first-round knockout attributable to a left hook towards Gabriel Braga (13-1 MMA, 1-0 2024 PFL, six factors within the standings) throughout PFL 3 on April 19 in Chicago. Because it stands at present, Gonzales is in ninth place.
Whereas it’s going to be a tall order for him to get within the playoffs (he’d have to produce other outcomes on the cardboard go his means along with profitable the PFL 6 important occasion himself inside the gap,) is Friday the evening the place he will get again within the win column? Solely time will inform.
Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction
Friday’s PFL 6 important occasion is a traditional power versus power matchup. Each males can get the win by stoppage.
Loughnane is Quick as Lightning
Brendan Loughnane doesn’t fiddle contained in the cage. A main instance of that occurred in his final combat vs. Pedro Carvalho in Chicago.
A couple of minute into the opening spherical of the competition, he sat Carvalho down with a right-handed punch earlier than unloading with floor and pound photographs. Whereas Carvalho tried to rise to his toes, Loughnane scored with one other proper hand to drive referee Kevin MacDonald to wave off the competition, regardless of the detrimental response from the assembled throng at Wintrust Area.
If Brendan Loughnane lands the primary massive blow of the PFL 6 important occasion, this combat could possibly be a wrap.
…So Is Gonzales
Within the different nook, Justin Gonzales could as properly known as himself “Speedy Gonzales” throughout his 2020 combat towards Jake Childers for the LFA Featherweight Championship. Spherical 4 of a scheduled 5 noticed him decide up the place he left off in spherical three, the place he pieced Childers up with quite a lot of strikes.
Not lengthy after the command to combat was given, Gonzales rocked Childers with a physique shot to start one other barrage of unanswered strikes, together with extra photographs to the physique to crumple Childers up like a bit of paper.
Justin Gonzales has to take probabilities within the PFL 6 important occasion and throw vicious combos. If he knocks Brendan Loughnane off of his supposed gameplan, he’ll rating the upset of the 12 months up to now within the league.
Closing Ideas
Don’t let their season trajectories idiot you, this seems to be like combat within the PFL 6 important occasion. Like we’ve seen the final two weeks, nothing is a given within the second half of the season.
Prediction: Brendan Loughnane by First-Spherical TKO.
