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A self-proclaimed 'MMA Nomad', Brendan Loughnane looks to kick off his PFL campaign on Thursday in a similar fashion to last year.

Loughnane faces Ryoji Kudo in his first fight of the PFL 2022 season in Arlington, Texas. The Mancunian reached the semi-finals of last year's campaign but was knocked out by Movlid Khaybulaev, who went on to the $1million prize.

The 32-year-old signed for PFL after he was controversially snubbed of a UFC contract after winning his fight on the Contender Series in 2019. Loughnane won his first five PFL fights as his loss to Khaybulaev last August snapped a four-year unbeaten run.

Loughnane, who feels UK MMA is at an all-time high, said of his fight with Kudo: "I'm in the middle of nowhere in Dallas, Texas. I’m an MMA nomad, I’ve been coming out to America for years fighting people in their own back garden no problem whatsoever.

"Not many people are doing that, how many UK fighters are doing that? But I think we are in the golden age, you’ve got myself, Leon Edwards, Arnold Allen, Molly McCann and Paddy Pimblett."

Kudo, a former Shooto world title challenger, makes his PFL debut on Thursday. Loughnane knows little about his opponent, but has welcomed him to "the big leagues" and promised