PFL 5 | The Great British Breakdown

With the PFL confirming they will be making their promotional debut in the UK in August, what British fighters could we see flying their flag on home soil? PFL 5 will see three British fighters hope to make it to the play off’s.

Heavyweights and Featherweights will be back inside the SmartCage come June 24th, and British fans can look forward to seeing their very own represent. Brendan Loughnane will look to go 2-0 for the season when he takes on Boston Salmon, and the Manchester native will hope to make quick work of it, propelling him into the play off spots. As well as Loughnane, Stuart Austin faces Croatian, Ante Delija, who currently sits just inside the play off spots at fourth. Stevie Ray also faces a tough test in Atlanta, when he takes on table topper, ‘Showtime’ Pettis.

Loughnane vs Salmon – Featherweight Bout

Up first is last years Featherweight semi-finalist, Brendan Loughnane. The Mancunian is currently sitting in 5th place, just outside of the play off spots with 3 points. In his last outing, a brutal accidental head-but resulted in the fight having to be called, 3 minutes into the last round. The fight went to a technical decision, and Loughnane was the victor picking up 3 vital points, keeping him in the play off picture. On the other-side of the SmartCage will stand Boston Salmon who is currently yet to pick up points in the 2022 season. ‘Boom Boom’ took on Sheymon Moraes in his first fight of the season, and was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision. Salmon will need a quick 6 if he plans on making it to the post season, whereas Loughnane will head into the fight, knowing that a victory, no matter how it comes, should be enough to cement his place in the play off’s 2 seasons in a row.

Austin vs Delija – Heavyweight Bout

Moving onto the Heavyweights, Stuart Austin will hope to bounce back from his last outing in which he was stopped in round 1 against 2021 Heavyweight champion, Bruno Cappelozza. Austin’s hopes of making it to the play offs are looking extremely unlikely, as he would have to hope for other results to go his way, as well as making quick work of the Croatian, Delija. Ante Delija is currently sat with 5 points, with a win almost guaranteeing his place in the play off’s. The Brit has faced his fair share of high level opponents during his PFL tenure, and that doesn’t change come June 24th.

Ray vs Pettis – Lightweight Bout

Tests don’t come much tougher to crack than ‘Showtime’ Pettis. His notorious electrifying striking is one of the reasons why Pettis is a fan favourite, and finds himself at the summit of the Lightweight standings. Stevie Ray is yet to pick up a point in the season, after he lost to Alexander Martinez in his PFL debut. Similar to Stuart Austin, Braveheart’s calibre of opponent has been the upper echelon of Lightweights. The former Cage Warriors champion will hope to surprise fans with an early stoppage of veteran, Pettis, etching his name in the play off bracket. Pettis’ PFL tenure didn’t get off to the start he would’ve hoped for as in the 2021 season, he found himself 0-2, not making it to the post season. The tide has changed this season though, and in his first 2022 outing, he picked up a quick 6 with a submission over Myles Price in round 1.

With PFL coming to the UK, there is no doubt this will give the UK fighters the extra motivation to pick up points in their respective weight classes, knowing the opportunity to fight in the UK under the PFL banner is just around the corner. UK fans can catch all the action as always on Channel 4, with PFL 5’s main card beginning at 2am, and the prelims being available on the Channel 4 YouTube channel from 12am.