Brett Johns: Welshman seeks PFL playoff suspension

Britain's Brett Johns will be looking for a stoppage victory in his next Professional Fighters League (PFL) bout against America's Tyler Diamond.

Johns acknowledges they need a win like this to bolster their playoff hopes, but he also acknowledges it will be a tough task.

The 32-year-old Jones lost his opening match in April to Timur Khizriyev and faces a big challenge if he is to make the playoffs in August.

The Swansea featherweight boxer will face Diamond in a $1 million tournament on Friday, June 28, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Diamond was called up to face Jones after Hungary's Adam Borix withdrew.

Johns agrees he will likely need to force a stoppage in the fight to have a chance.

“I think it's fair to say that next game, it's not just about winning,” Johns said.

“Victory is [judges’] Decisions are not enough.

“The example I try to give people is Wales are in the group stage and they can't just win, they have to win by basically three goals. That's the situation we find ourselves in now.”

“It's a big ask. I'll be fighting a tough opponent, but this is mixed martial arts and you never know what's going to happen on the night.”

Fellow Briton Brendan Ronen was one of two fighters to earn maximum points in his first bout at the tournament.

Loughnane will face American Justin Gonzalez in the main event.

Gonzalez was last beaten in the first round by Brazil's Gabriel Bulaga.

In PFL tournaments, fighters receive three points for a win and an additional point for a stoppage, depending on which round the stoppage occurs.

A first-round stoppage is worth six points to a fighter, two-round is worth five points, and a three-round stoppage is worth four points.

A win, as determined by the judges, is worth 3 points, a draw is worth 1 point, and a loss is worth 0 points.

The top four fighters in the standings will advance to a playoff later this year.

The only British fighter to qualify for the playoffs so far this season is Dakota Dycheba, who advanced as the top seed in the women's flyweight tournament after earning a maximum of 12 points in two bouts.

Johns became a father at the end of May when he and his wife, Carys, welcomed daughter Betty Mare into the world, something he calls an “amazing experience.”

“I was looking for something to go along with the fight and now I think it's fair to say I've found it with my daughter,” Johns said.

“I'm so grateful for my wife, she's been such hellish these last nine months, but now that she's finally healthy, she's the most beautiful thing ever.”

Johns said he felt in good shape for the fight despite only getting five hours of sleep a night.

“I'll accept whatever happens,” Johns said.

“A knockout is great, a submission is great.

“I have to be very careful not to tire myself out trying to get the finish. The most important thing in this fight is to get the win, but I need to finish somehow to advance.”

“He (Diamond) is a tough Division I wrestler. He's ready and motivated. I'm just going to fight fire with fire and see who's in better shape on the night.”

“The chances of us making the playoffs are very slim, but it's still possible.

“I'm definitely going to give it a go.”