If we know anything about Loughnane it's that he won't give up - remember that story earlier about winning a fight with a broken arm?

He leans on that never-say-die attitude here as he manages to get his back on the fence and drag himself back to his feet.

Loughnane is looking tired, tough, his gumshield comes out for a third time, and his face is covered in blood.

In contrast, Khizriev looks fresh and has three rounds under his belt.

Image source, PFL

Khizriev is so intelligent. We've seen him feint for a takedown and then come up the middle with an uppercut on a couple of occasions now. Loughnane has taken the bait and then the punch each time.

Loughnane gets desperate with another spinning kick but it's the same result as round one with Khizriev reading it and securing the takedown.

Khizriev has full control from top position.

Image source, PFL

One thing to highlight about Khizriev is that he rarely gets the job done inside the distance - even if he has won all 17 of his fights. Only four times has he finished his opponent.

This isn't looking good for Loughnane, though, eats another jab and absorbs a knee as he's backed up to the fence.

Loughnane is wearing the damage all across his face now. Blood is coming from his nose and next to his eye.

There definitely seems to be something off with his knee. He's not moving well and Khizriev continues to take advantage.

Dan Hardy
PFL chief on DAZN

He's not moving right, Brendan. He's looked down at his knee a few times. He did it in the first round, I think that's when something happened. I don't know whether he jarred the knee or something.

OK, even on the feet it looks like it is going to be a tough night for Loughnane.

Khizriev seems to have the speed advantage.

The Russian throws two solid jabs and blood is starting to pour from the bridge of Loughnane's nose.

Khizriev takes a tumble. He gets back to his feet and puts his hand up to signal to his corner that he is fine. It might have just been a slip.

He still looks in full control and Loughnane's face is now covered in blood.

Image source, PFL

Dan Hardy
PFL chief on DAZN

Brendan is being smart here, but I think that hurt him that uppercut. He was kind of frozen from it for a moment.

It seems obvious to say but Loughnane needs this round to stay on the feet for as long as possible. He was managing the fight well enough in round one before attempting that spinning kick.

Khizriev attempts a spinning kick of his own and it lands to the body, he follows with another kick and Loughnane is caught with an uppercut as he is backed on to the fence. He needs to stay away from there.

Khizriev sits in Lougnane's guard but is causing some damage with his hands.

Loughnane shrimps and tries to turn away but Khizriev takes the back and tries to attack the neck. It's well defended by Loughnane as he stands up but Khizriev drags him straight back down.

The round ends with Khizriev in top position.

Loughnane has been hesitant to commit to shots early on.

Khizriev's striking has been slick but we know it's all about just setting traps so he can shoot for a takedown and with half of the five minute round remaining he seizes his chance as Loughnane throws a wild spinning kick and leaves an opening.

Khizriev lands with two early calf kicks and then comes forward behind the jab.

Ahhh that was nice - Khizriev from nowhere flicks a kick straight down the middle.

An impressive start from the Russian.

Can Brendan Loughnane become the first British two-time world champion?

If he manages to achieve that feat tonight then he's going to have to do something special.

Timur Khizriev is 17-0 and has some very impressive wrestling skills to lean on.

It appears the crowd is largely supporting Khizriev too - Loughnane gets quite a few boos as his name is announced.

A touch of gloves and we are ready to go.

Here is Brendan Loughnane.

Can he make it a Manchester double tonight after Dakota Ditcheva delivered earlier?

Great song choice - 'Time' by Chase & Status, takes me back to my days at university.

A cartwheel into the cage too, always love a bit of finesse to the entrance.

It's main event time.

Timur Khizriev is first to make the walk for the PFL featherweight world title contest.

An undefeated fighter with 17 wins under his belt, Khizriev is not to be underestimated.

He's not wasting any time with the walk either. Straight down the ramp and to the cage. He wants this bout to get under way.

Image source, Getty Images

After suffering the third loss of his career in 2017, Brendan Loughnane was determined to avoid successive defeats when he stepped into the cage against Paata Tsxapelia.

However, the Mancunian suffered a broken arm in the opening round and the odds seemed stacked against him.

"I ended up doing a spinning backfist, my opponent put his head down and my arm snapped," Loughnane told BBC Sport.

"I showed my corner and they said they were gonna stop the fight but I said, 'no, I'll find a way'.

"I came back out for the second round, my arm's hanging down at my side, and I'm jabbing him with my other. Then the guy realises my arm's broken so I head kicked him and knocked him out - insane."

Despite being in excruciating pain, Loughnane somehow found the will to win.

"I'll never forget when I did it and tried to shake it off, my arm just went ice cold, and then the real ,real, real pain kicked in. When my adrenaline had stopped I was screaming in the back."

Image source, Getty Images

In short, Timur Khizriev is an undefeated, highly-talented wrestler from Dagestan, Russia.

Mixed martial arts fans will know all-to-well just how fighters from Dagestan have dominated the sport over the past five years.

Khizriev falls firmly into that category and isn't showing any signs of slowing.

The 29-year-old was a highly decorated amateur across a variety of martial arts disciplines, including freestyle wrestling and Wushu Sanda - a style of boxing practiced in China.

He committed to MMA during his late teens and has never looked back.

After competing on the regional circuit in his native Russia, Khizriev signed for Bellator in 2022.

Khizriev competed on three occasions under the Bellator banner before the promotion was acquired by PFL in November 2023.

He made his PFL debut at the start of the 2024 season in April.

Khizriev has won all 18 of his professional MMA contests, with 13 victories coming via decision, three by knockout and one by submission.

Image source, Getty Images

Brendan Loughnane made his professional mixed martial arts debut in June 2010, beating Jordan Desborough by TKO.

Just a month later, Loughnane travelled off to Malia - a popular holiday spot on the Greek island Crete - to celebrate his win and he found himself back in the cage for his second fight.

"I was walking down the strip, and some people said, 'do you want to come and watch some cage fighting tonight'?," Loughnane told BBC Sport.

"I went down there in a pair of pink beach shorts, but someone pulled out on the night, so I ended up saying, 'stuff it, I'll do it', no gumshield, nothing.

"I ended up beating the Greek champion over there - and it was like I was the king of Malia, they were parading me through the streets."

Loughnane has some of the best cardio in the sport, with his resting heart rate currently 29 beats-per-minute in anticipation of fighting Timur Khizriev, and it would have come in handy that night in Malia.

"I was intoxicated too... let's not beat around the bush," he adds with a laugh.

"It was three days in so I'd been intoxicated for three days. It was my first lads' holiday."

Adam Catterall: "Dakota Ditcheva is the REAL DEAL. Pieced up Taila Santos and took her out in style. Fasten your seatbelts this girl is going to be an absolute superstar."

Andy Hickey: "Dakota Ditcheva is in the conversation of best active female fighters in the world right now. The PFL have a legitimate superstar on their hands."

Ariel Helwani: "Wooow Dakota Ditcheva second round TKO. Clinical. Impressive. Again. She wins the [million] and the tournament. Face of PFL. A few months she did a vlog shopping for the best deal on car insurance because funds were tight. What a story."

Peter Carroll: "Dakota, what a savage."

PFL fighter Cris Cyborg: "Spacing, Timing, Distance. Dakota Ditcheva is dangerous and only getting better with each performance. Congratulations on the win and the 1m dollars."

Brendan Loughnane has almost 15 years of experience under his belt as a professional mixed marital artist.

The 34-year-old made his debut in June 2010 and he's accumulated some wild tales along the journey.

Fancy hearing some of 'Loughnane's tales' to get you in the mood for his latest chapter coming up shortly?

PFL flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva, speaking on DAZN: "I mean, I've been telling you. I've been trying to tell you. I'm sure they'll still be moaning about me but I'll just keep proving them wrong."

On what is next: "I don’t know. The world is mine. I just beat the best girl out there. Me and PFL will come out with something amazing again.

"She's a tough girl. I knew what I was capable of. I worked so hard. They've been talking, 'she's just a Barbie, she should be a model'. Well a model just beat you in round two, so shut up."

On a card in England: "Brendan (Loughnane) is about to bring home his second world title. Then next year, no more PFL shows until we've gone to Manchester."

On support from her family: "I honestly could not do this without my team. I cried pretty much every day this camp. These guys have kept me stuck together. My brother put his whole life on hold for me. He's not even got a girlfriend because he's always with me. This belt is for him."

Image source, PFL

Brendan Loughnane beat Bubba Jenkins to win the PFL featherweight tournament in 2022.

The then 32-year-old was the first Briton to claim a PFL belt. We caught up with him in the weeks after his fight.