TYRONE’S Caolan Loughran will return to the octagon next month – taking on American veteran Julio Arce on a major PFL card in Austin.
The Kildress man (11-3), coming off an impressive first round submission win over Alan Philpott in April, isn’t wasting any time as he bids to climb the featherweight rankings.
Standing in Loughran’s way is the experienced Arce when they collide at the Moody Centre on July 18, on the undercard of the main event rematch between middleweight rivals Johnny Eblen and Impa Kasanganay.
Arce has a record of 21-7, and came out the wrong side of a split decision in his last bout against Alexie Pergande in March. But victory could edge whoever wins closer to title contention.
For Loughran, it was vital that he got back to winning ways against Philpott, having lost his PFL debut against Jack Cartwright last December.
The 29-year-old indicated he could quit the sport altogether if he suffered another defeat but, in his first fight back on home soil since 2022, Loughran thrilled the SSE Arena crowd by stopping his opponent in just one minute and 11 seconds.
Having previously been based in Liverpool, he returned home in recent months to work out of the Fight Academy Ireland gym in west Belfast, and will hope to bank another big win on July 18.
