PFL: Brendan Loughnane says sparring Conor McGregor helped recovery from a knockout

Loughnane's defeat by Pinedo was the fifth of his 32-fight career

When Brendan Loughnane was knocked out by Jesus Pinedo 10 months ago, it left the Manchester fighter with a strange feeling.

During the first round of his featherweight contest with Peru's Pinedo, Loughnane was dropped by a knee strike, ending his dream of defending the Professional Fighters League championship he won in 2022.

It was the first time the 34-year-old had been stopped in his 32-fight career.

"It was really hard. Really hard. And it was also really foreign to me. I've never experienced anything like that and I've done a lot within the sport," Loughnane told BBC Sport.

"It's a very surreal feeling, very weird and strange, I can't really explain it. I've been hurt a few times, don't get me wrong, but never like that."

It was not until five months later that Loughnane would start to feel like his old self again, and it came at the hands of Conor McGregor during a training session in Dubai.

"It took me a while to get over it and the reason I did get over it was when I started sparring McGregor, and we started sparring hard," said Loughnane.

"And then I realised, 'Oh, the chin still does work. Great! Let's go'."

On Friday at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Loughnane starts his quest to reclaim the PFL featherweight title when he faces Portugal's Pedro Carvalho - a training partner of McGregor in Dublin - in his season opener.

"He's a great guy [McGregor], I loved the rounds. And I'm actually fighting one of his teammates in this fight. So I don't know, I'll be looking forward to getting this fight over with," said Loughnane.

"I really enjoyed the training and I'm sure he did and I'd love to get some rounds in again."

Victory would put Loughnane in a strong position to qualify from his group for the play-offs, before the PFL Finals at the end of the year.

'I had Christmas dinner with my mum then flew to Thailand for training'

Loughnane is the only Briton to win a PFL championship

The seasonal format of the PFL means fighters can compete up to four times in seven months should they reach the finals, as a victorious Loughnane did in 2022.

Defeat to eventual 2023 champion Pinedo, who Loughnane gives full credit to - "he caught me fair and square" - meant he was afforded some much needed time off.

"It's been such a hard couple of years for me in this thing. That 10 months since my last fight has been so productive for me," said Loughnane.

"It's turned me into a better person, a better fighter. I'm looking forward to showing everyone on Friday night."

Carvalho, 28, is competing in the PFL for the first time after the organisation acquired his former promotion Bellator in November.

Loughnane started to train for the fight against Carvalho on Boxing Day after flying to Thailand from Manchester on Christmas Day.

"I had a promise to my mum that I'd spend Christmas Day with her because I haven't done for a while," said Loughnane.

"I had Christmas dinner with my mum and I flew at 8.40pm that night. I'm in the last half of my career and I'd rather make the most of it and get as many fights in as possible.

"And if that means moving around on Christmas Day that means moving around on Christmas Day. I've got to keep promises, but I've also got to keep promises to myself."