Brendan Loughnane defeated Mike Wilkinson at ACB 54 two weeks ago (photo: ACB)

It looked doubtful for a while, but the biggest UK domestic MMA fight of all time could yet go ahead if everything falls into place for Paddy Pimblett and Brendan Loughnane.

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Talk of a fight between the two first started last year when Cage Warriors boss Graham Boylan reached out to Loughnane via Twitter.

Unfortunately, talks between the two parties were unsuccessful with Cage Warriors only willing to let the fight take place if Loughnane signed a multi-fight deal with the organization.

Both Loughnane and Pimblett went their separate ways, but only after Boylan vented his frustration at the Mancunian on Twitter about him not accepting the terms on the table.


If your serious @Brendan264 and you want a piece of "the baddy”

( @PatrickPimblett ) if dates work & he’s still around lets do it. #ukmma — Graham Boylan (@GrahamBoylan) September 20, 2016

All negotiations looked to be off at that point, but Metro.co.uk can exclusively reveal that the two parties have met again.



Initial talks have begun to get the fight back, but those negotiations depend on whether Pimblett is victorious this weekend at Cage Warriors 82 against Nad Narimani.

Truth got to you Bren ? No believe in yourself to be a real champ ? @Brendan264 — Graham Boylan (@GrahamBoylan) October 1, 2016

Loughnane revealed that he has plenty of offers, but that a showdown with Pimblett was the fight that he wanted.

‘There are all types of contracts on the table,’ Loughnane told Metro.co.uk.

‘If you look at the rankings, you got Paddy [Pimblett] and [Chris] Fishgold above me.

Paddy Pimblett is the Cage Warriors featherweight champion (Picture: Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors)

‘I only want to fight people above me or fight abroad.

‘We are actually back in talks with Cage Warriors so hopefully, Paddy can get the job done and I can go there and take both them belts.’

The Mancunian revealed the extent of the talks and said that he had met with Boylan for lunch.

Despite their previous clashes on social media, it now seems that all is well between the two parties.

‘After the ACB fight me and Graham spoke,’ Loughnane revealed.

The main thing MMA has taught me is never leave it in the hands of the judges #4StraightKOs #2017 #Finishes #Hunting pic.twitter.com/rHb2KzlhUB — Brendan Loughnane (@Brendan264) March 20, 2017

‘Graham and I are back on good terms now despite our fighting on Twitter.

‘Look business is business and at the end of the day when I look at those rankings it’s those two fighters that are above me and they both fight for Cage Warriors.

‘I actually reached out to Graham and said: ‘Look, let’s make this fight happen mate’ and to be fair he was very chilled, came back to me and he suggested we meet up and have a talk and laugh at all the bullsh*t that happened on Twitter basically.

With the frosty relationship between the two now over, Loughnane is hoping that everything plays out according to plan and that one of the biggest UK MMA fights of all time can be put together.

‘Graham and I are cool now,’ Loughnane said.

‘He’s a businessman and I like to look at myself as a fighter and a businessman so I think we can make it happen.

‘I think it will be great for Manchester, Liverpool and UK MMA.

You love that line but the rankings say you are the only man left so…… https://t.co/q1abX7U4bf — Brendan Loughnane (@Brendan264) March 14, 2017

‘Like I said, hopefully, he [Pimblett] can go get the job done against Nad.

‘If he doesn’t, I’ll look elsewhere to be honest.

‘But if he does I’m happy to sit down and compromise on a few terms to get it going with Cage Warriors.’

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