Caolan Loughran 'relieved' to get back in the win column as he plots successful 2024

The Tyrone native picked up the first UFC win of his career last month.

Relief is the emotion that washed over Caolan Loughran after he picked up his first UFC win at the second attempt with a decision victory over Angel Pacheco last month.

‘The Don’ made his debut for the world’s largest MMA promotion last September, losing via decision to Taylor Lapilus in what was the first defeat of his professional career.

For five months, the Tyrone native stewed over that defeat. But when the moment came for redemption, he grasped it with both hands.

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“To be honest, it’s more relief,” Loughran says when asked how he feels about the win.

“For me, for the last 10 years, I don’t know about other fighters but it’s more like ‘thank God I didn’t lose’ more than ‘Oh it was deadly to win.’

“That’s just always how it is. But I was happy. The performance was quite good, so that more than anything is the most satisfying thing.”

It’s hard for fighters not to dwell on defeats.

As they only compete a handful of times a year, a loss can really weigh heavy on the shoulders of even the most experienced fighters let alone prospects.

“It’s alright if you’re a Gaelic footballer or a soccer player or whatever, you take a loss and six/seven days later you’re competing again and you can start to put a run together and turn things around.

“For me, it was September 2nd through to March 30th on a loss and I’ve got a one beside my record.

“As competitors, it’s not the easiest thing in the World. But again, just the relief, and I can now start to look up the division.”

Again, the word relief crops up.

Seeing as winning can sometimes barely even evoke joy, it does beg the question of whether fighting is worth the hassle that goes with it.

But for athletes like Loughran, the actual fighting is the easy part, it’s the waiting around that can mess with the mind.

“I don’t know if you heard Alexander Volkanovski whenever he took the fight against Islam Makhachev he said he felt lost (not having a fight scheduled).

“I have no mental health problems, definitely not, but I can relate to that.

"I almost don’t know what to do with myself when I don’t have a fight.

“One thing about fighting - and I’m already back training twice a day - but you have a lot of free time on your hands. If you don’t have a fight it’s really boring, I do be half-lost without a fight”

Last month’s win in Atlantic City was the culmination of a lifelong dream for the 27-year-old Bantamweight and marked his first fight on American soil.

Safe to say it was an eye-opening experience, one that the 9-1 star won’t forget in a hurry.

“Truthfully, Atlantic City is probably the worst city I’ve ever seen in my life. During the week the casinos are absolutely bunged, but everywhere else is like a ghost town. Everywhere’s closed, it’s really weird.

"But the Boardwalk Hall that I competed in; Gatti v Ward was in there.

“My favourite fighter Roberto Duran fought there.

“All Floyd Mayweather’s come-up fights were here. You could almost like smell the history in the arena.

“Atlantic City was not a good place but the arena was unbelievable.”

His experience in Atlantic City hasn’t put him off fighting in America again however and he would love to bring fans from his hometown to Sin City.

He’s targeting a return to the Octagon for July’s card in Manchester, which is just a short spin from his base in Liverpool, before rounding off the year with what he hopes will be his third win of 2024 around December time.

But those plans could fall by the wayside if he gets the call to feature on a Conor McGregor card this year.

The Notorious will return to the octagon against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in July and Loughran believes he would bring a good contingent of Irish fans to help sell out an arena.

“As for what’s next, there’s talk of a McGregor card. I bring a lot of Irish people other than McGregor I bring the most. If you want to bring Irish people to a McGregor fight in 2024, stick 'The Don' on it. I hope so.

“For me, being honest, Manchester is looking like a big possibility and it would really suit me.

"I’d bring a lot of people from back home and all over Ireland. That would be class for me to get on that Manchester card. But if I’m being honest, if a McGregor card came up it would be hard to say no to that.”

Watch Caolan Loughlan’s recent fights on UFC Fight Pass, the home to world-class combat promotions and major sporting events, giving fans access to thousands of hours of content and live events worldwide.

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