Johns misses out on PFL play-offs after Diamond loss

Brett Johns (L) can only watch as Tyler Diamond celebrates his triumph

Brett Johns missed out on a Professional Fighters League (PFL) play-off spot after a unanimous decision loss against Tyler Diamond.

Welshman Johns needed a convincing victory over American Diamond in Sioux Falls to stand any chance of clinching a top four berth after losing his opening PFL fight against Timur Khizriev in April.

After losing the opening round against Diamond, Swansea's Johns levelled the contest following a number of takedowns in round two.

But Diamond edged a gritty third round to win the bout 29-28 on the scorecards, leaving Johns winless after two fights.

As a result of the contest in South Dakota, Johns missed out on a spot in the top four of the featherweight standings, meaning he failed to qualify for the August play-offs where there is a $1m (£790,000) dollar prize on offer.

"It's hard to take the defeat," Johns told S4C following his loss.

"My fitness was good in the first and second rounds. I was shocked that I felt fatigued in the third round, I'm not like that normally.

"I had a bit of a chest infection during the week, but look, I lost, plain and simple. I lost to the better man tonight.

"I just have to go back, change a few things and see what's next. I'd like to come back to the PFL but that's out of my hands now."

Fellow Briton Brendan Loughnane remains in contention to secure a second PFL world title after a stunning victory over American Justin Gonzales at PFL 6.

The 34-year-old's precision striking saw him win the first round, and Loughnane opened up a gruesome cut on Gonzales' forehead in the second round.

The cageside physician swiftly ended the contest as Loughnane, from Manchester, claimed a TKO victory via doctor’s stoppage.

Having already earned a maximum haul of six points in his most recent PFL bout with an 86-second first-round stoppage of Pedro Carvalho, Loughnane ended the season as top seed with 11 points.

He will face number four seed Kai Kamaka in the semi-finals, with Gabriel Braga and Timur Khizriev battling it out in the other last four encounter.