Jesus Pinedo is searching for an announcement victory when he faces Gabriel Braga on June 12 in Nashville, competing for a spot within the 2025 PFL featherweight match finals.
Pinedo and Braga first met in April 2023, when Braga entered as a short-notice substitute and received a break up determination in Las Vegas. The rematch went down eight months later for the 145-pound championship, when Pinedo claimed the $1 million prize with a third-round knockout.
The official rating is 1-1 going into PFL 5 on Thursday, however the Peruvian expertise disputes that.
“You’ve heard me say this earlier than, I’ll say it once more and I’ll proceed to say it endlessly: I didn’t lose that first battle in opposition to Gabriel Braga,” Pinedo informed MMA Preventing via a translator. “Proper now I imagine that I’m 2-0 and June 12 I’m gonna go 3-0. I’m gonna go in there break him get the stoppage and proceed on to the finals.”
Pinedo calls the Brazilian “a really respectable opponent”, however predicts one other emphatic end to advance for the $500,000 closing conflict with whoever emerges victorious from Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Tae Kyun Kim.
“Once we face off I’m coming to interrupt him and I’m going to get my spot within the finals,” Pinedo mentioned. “Gabriel’s recreation is his battle IQ, it’s plain. He’s an amazing fighter, nobody’s denying that, however what I carry to the desk in our battle, he can’t cease. I’m coming in there to interrupt him. I’m coming into they obtained the win. I don’t assume he has the sport plan to determine me out as a result of I’m such a singular fighter. So on June 12, I’m gonna get that victory.”
“I’m at all times assured, however the confidence by no means comes over beating opponents or getting wins over sure opponents,” he continued. “My confidence comes from each morning I’m waking up 4:30 within the morning, I’m going to run, I’m doing all of the reps that I wanted to do in an effort to achieve success. So the arrogance that I’ve, it’s all from coaching, it’s all from what I’m doing exterior of the cage that’s what provides me my confidence.”
Pínedo scored 15 of his 24 skilled wins by knockout, however feels that his floor recreation is commonly ignored. His most up-to-date submission victory occurred in 2018, again in his days as Inka FC champion in his native Peru, and is proud to characterize luta livre within the cage.
“Lots of people don’t know that [I’m a luta livre black belt], they assume we don’t practice wrestling, however the actuality is that everyday, what we’re doing probably the most is wrestling and grappling,” Pinedo mentioned. “That’s the place the energy is available in for the academy that I practice at. And if the battle goes there, then I’ve no reservations displaying the world my grappling recreation and popping out on prime of the submission victory if I’ve to.”
PFL inked a broadcast take care of FOX Sports activities Mexico this previous March and firm CEO Peter Murray talked about the potential for launching a PFL Latin America league “as early as subsequent 12 months.”
Pinedo mentioned that the MMA scene in Peru is “rising 12 months over 12 months” though it’s not a rustic stuffed with elite fighters competing in world-class promotions, likes different Latin American international locations resembling Brazil and Mexico, however Peruvian fighters are “making some noise they usually’re making a reputation for themselves and representing the nation effectively.”
PFL has but to announce plans for a Latin America present in 2026, however Pinedo would like to be the face of that firm — and possibly headline a PFL present in Peru sooner or later.
“That’s positively a dream of mine,” Pinedo mentioned. “It’s one thing that’s at all times prime of thoughts. I’m hoping to chase this championship closing on the earth match after which with two belts beneath the PFL banner I hope that that’s going to be sufficient to carry the PFL present right here to Peru the place I can battle. The long run is a bit of ambiguous, we don’t understand how issues are going to roll out, however I’m going to maintain doing my half and hold successful and changing into a champion. And I do know that that’s the one going to assist the case to get PFL to come back to Peru.”
