Full Contact Contender (FCC), has announced the main event for Full Contact Contender 7, now featuring former Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes contestant and UFC veteran Brendan Loughnane (pictured) taking on Tim Close. The pair will contest the promotion’s first ever lightweight title when they meet at The Reebok on Saturday September 7th, 2013.
Despite only being in his early 20’s, Loughnane has been competing in MMA since 2008. After compiling a 5-0 amateur record, the Manchester-based fighter turned pro in 2010, stringing together five wins before earning a reserve slot on TUF: The Smashes. Loughnane defeated Australia’s Patrick Iodice by unanimous decision, before losing out to eventual winner Norman Parke. Loughnane went on to fight at UFC on FX 6, against Mike Wilkinson, where he lost a competitive unanimous decision. FCC 7 marks Loughnane’s return to domestic competition.
Kirk Merrington MMA’s Tim Close. Close (6-3) is an experienced lightweight from the north east of England, having plied his trade on shows including OMMAC, Made 4 The Cage and Total Combat. After losing his first two professional bouts (including a decision loss to current Cage Warriors fighter and FCC veteran Jordan Desborough), Close rattled off five straight before coming up short against Cage Warriors veteran Marcin Wrzosek in May. Close also holds a 4-2-1 amateur MMA record, with his first amateur bouts dating back to 2003.
FCC Promoter Adam Teh said: “I’m a huge fan of Brendan’s, and it was great to see him representing UK MMA on the Ultimate Fighter and in the UFC. He put on some great fights out in Australia, and with the summer we’re having, he’ll think that he’s back on the gold coast when he faces Tim Close at FCC 7! I’m very happy that Brendan has chosen Full Contact Contender for his comeback fight, and I think that Tim has all the tools to give him an excellent test, as well as putting on a great show for the FCC fans!”
FCC 7 Fight Card (additional bouts to be confirmed):
Professional Showcase Bouts:
Main event: Brendan Loughnane vs Tim Close – vacant FCC Professional Lightweight Title
Co-main event: Alex Minogue vs Jordan McClusky
Ant Bailey vs Mark Jones
Kane Mousah vs Danny Joel
Unified Amateur Rules:
Josh Jarvis (c) vs Wayne Tierney – FCC Amateur Featherweight Title
Light Heavyweight #1 Contender Bout: TBA vs James Walker
Lightweight #1 Contender Bout: John Carney vs Paul Douglas
Aaron McDonnell vs Daryl Golding
Alex Bristow vs AJ Akande
Steve Allison vs Andy Eatock
Danny Randalph vs Javonne Morrision
Tony Morgan vs TBA
Jay Robinson vs Stephen Duke
Kuba Kazmierczak vs Sam Sheridan
Tarro Grogan vs Jay Patterson
Anthony Macintrye vs Conor Riordan
Matthew Pickering vs Ashley Wrath
Ryan Robinson vs TBA
