Although it’s only late June, we’ve got some finality in this MMA weekend. Friday marks the last PFL card in its 2024 regular season. After Friday night, all six playoff brackets will be locked in, save for any playoff alternates who need to tag in due to injuries.
This week, the SmartCage touches down in Sioux Falls, SD and the Sanford Pentagon for PFL 6. It’s the final chance for welterweights and featherweights to score points in the standings to qualify for postseason action. Winners advance to PFL 9 on Aug. 23 in Washington, DC from The Anthem.
Live coverage kicks off at 6:30 pm ET/ 3:30 pm PT on ESPN+ before continuing at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN proper, with this programming note for those intending to watch on linear television: The 10 pm ET start time for ESPN is approximate, contingent upon the length of the first round of this year’s NHL Draft.
Featherweights Do Battle to Wrap Up Regular Season
All told, barring any further postponements or adjustments to Friday’s slate, the final version of PFL 6 features 11 fights. Highlighting the night is the final contest of the regular season in the PFL 6 main event at 145 lbs.
Brendan Loughnane (28-5 MMA, 1-0 2024 PFL, six points in the standings) faces off against Justin Gonzales (14-4 MMA, 0-1 2024 PFL, zero points in the standings.) As with all PFL fights through the semifinals, the PFL 6 main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
If the season were to end today, Loughnane would stake claim to the No. 1 seed in the bracket by virtue of having a faster first-round finish (1:26) than the second-place fighter, Gabriel Braga (4:59.)
It’s about that time again @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 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the PFL 6 main event on Friday night, both of these men stand level in height at 5-foot-9 with identical reaches of 71 inches. Gonzales owns a three-inch leg reach advantage (40 inches to 37 inches) over Loughnane.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Brendan Loughnane installed as a -500 favorite on the money line, with Justin Gonzales countering as a +380 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in MMA or combat sports, please wager responsibly.
Loughnane Correcting Past Errors During 2024 PFL Season
Brendan Loughnane enters the PFL 6 main event having posted a record of 4-1 in his last five MMA fights. Back in April of this year, the 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion scored a first-round knockout (straight right followed by ground and pound) against Pedro Carvalho (13-9 MMA, 0-1 PFL 2024, zero points in the standings) during PFL 3 to net himself first place for the moment.
Recently, Loughnane talked with USA Today’s MMA Junkie about the lessons learned from the 2023 PFL season.
“If you remember rightly, I was in the same position last year and ended up getting knocked out,” the former champion began. “I took my eye off the ball and thought I was already in the semis. I’ll be making sure to not make that mistake again. I’ve really, really learned from that experience and I’ve definitely not [taken] my foot off the pedal or off the gas or eye off the ball. I’ll be looking forward to getting in there and another safe, healthy camp.”
Loughnane had five points going into his PFL 4 bout last year against Jesus Pinedo. A stunning first-round knockout loss meant he’d watch the playoffs on TV from home in England. Will he clinch a spot in the playoffs this year? Tune into the PFL 6 main event and find out.
Can Gonzales Stop Skid?
In the other corner, Justin Gonzales has gone 2-3 in his last five fights. At the moment, he’s on a three-fight losing streak.
Last time out, he sustained a first-round knockout due to a left hook against Gabriel Braga (13-1 MMA, 1-0 2024 PFL, six points in the standings) during PFL 3 on April 19 in Chicago. As it stands currently, Gonzales is in ninth place.
While it’s going to be a tall order for him to get in the playoffs (he’d need to have other results on the card go his way in addition to winning the PFL 6 main event himself inside the distance,) is Friday the night where he gets back in the win column? Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Friday’s PFL 6 main event is a classic strength versus strength matchup. Both men can get the win by stoppage.
Loughnane is Fast as Lightning
Brendan Loughnane doesn’t mess around inside the cage. A prime example of that happened in his last fight vs. Pedro Carvalho in Chicago.
About a minute into the opening round of the contest, he sat Carvalho down with a right-handed punch before unloading with ground and pound shots. While Carvalho tried to rise to his feet, Loughnane scored with another right hand to force referee Kevin MacDonald to wave off the contest, despite the negative reaction from the assembled throng at Wintrust Arena.
If Brendan Loughnane lands the first big blow of the PFL 6 main event, this fight could be a wrap.
…So Is Gonzales
In the other corner, Justin Gonzales may as well called himself “Speedy Gonzales” during his 2020 fight against Jake Childers for the LFA Featherweight Championship. Round four of a scheduled five saw him pick up where he left off in round three, where he pieced Childers up with a variety of strikes.
Not long after the command to fight was given, Gonzales rocked Childers with a body shot to begin another barrage of unanswered strikes, including more shots to the body to crumple Childers up like a piece of paper.
Justin Gonzales has to take chances in the PFL 6 main event and throw vicious combinations. If he knocks Brendan Loughnane off of his intended gameplan, he’ll score the upset of the year so far in the league.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let their season trajectories fool you, this looks like a good fight in the PFL 6 main event. Like we’ve seen the last two weeks, nothing is a given in the second half of the season.
Prediction: Brendan Loughnane by First-Round TKO.
