In the world of MMA, fighters often leave their mark. At PFL 6, Brendan Loughnane left a particularly memorable one on Justin Gonzales‘ forehead. The featherweight main event at PFL 6 ended with a technical knockout, with fans wincing. Loughnane delivered a knee strike that would make even veteran fighters cringe.
Loughnane is an excellent striker in the PFL. His perfectly placed knee found Gonzales’ forehead in the second round. The result was a cut so deep that the skull was almost visible. The referee paused the action, allowing the doctor to assess the damage. One look at Gonzales’ forehead and the decision was clear. The fight was over.
Gonzales wasn’t happy about the stoppage, but his forehead told a different story. The cut leaked blood like a faucet and covered his face and body. Loughnane’s knee not only secured him the win but also the top spot in the featherweight division. He’s now set to face Kai Kamaka in the semifinals.
😬🤕 This BRUTAL knee from Brendan Loughnane caused a NASTY cut in the #PFL6 main event.
His opponent kinda ate the knee, but the ref had no choice but to stop the fight.
🎥 IG / @PFLMMA #MMA 🔹 pic.twitter.com/s2BfzYhpl4
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) June 29, 2024
This victory puts Loughnane one step closer to his second $1 million payday. Kamaka, who defeated Pedro Carvalho earlier in the night, now faces a formidable opponent. The fight’s abrupt ending left some fans wanting more. But the decision from the referee and the doctor seemed more than appropriate.
Fight fans reacted to Brendan Loughnane’s head-splitting knee on Justin Gonzales
Injuries are par for the course in professional fighting. But sometimes, an injury comes along that makes even the toughest fans wince. The PFL is a respectable organization in the MMA world. The recent PFL 6 fight between Brendan Loughnane and Justin Gonzales reminded fans of the brutal aspect of the MMA they love and adore.
Fight fans react to the PFL 6 main event (via Sherdog/ Tapology)Fight fans used social media to showcase their reactions to this harrowing event. Some fight fans were concerned for the fighter’s safety. Others were disappointed at the fight’s sudden end. A subset of fight fans were relieved that the fight was immediately stopped due to the massive injury.
Holy fuck that’s the second worst cut I’ve seen
— Sprite (@SprIIteacus) June 29, 2024
OMG, knee is a mortal☠️☠️
— jota🇹🇭 (@jottbunny) June 29, 2024
It absolutely WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😌
— chelbell🌵🦌 (@yeahnothanku) June 29, 2024
Oooof. That’s a tough one. So much respect to all of you guys and ladies who can do that. The average person couldn’t even walk into the fight never mind what it takes to get there.
— lorazafan (@sportsnmusic17) June 29, 2024
Badly organised spreadsheets can be quite gnarly, you know
— Chiranjit Ojha (@ChiranjitOjha) June 29, 2024
As the dust settles on this viral moment, one thing is clear. For all its toughness, the fighting community still has a soft spot. They can joke about a severe injury but also deeply care about their own. This incident serves as a reminder of the fine line fighters walk. It’s a balance between entertainment and safety, passion and precaution.
