Jesus Pinedo is searching for a press release 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 gained 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 without end: I didn’t lose that first struggle in opposition to Gabriel Braga,” Pinedo informed MMA Preventing by a translator. “Proper now I consider 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 remaining conflict with whoever emerges victorious from Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Tae Kyun Kim.
“After we face off I’m coming to interrupt him and I’m going to get my spot within the finals,” Pinedo stated. “Gabriel’s recreation is his struggle IQ, it’s simple. He’s an awesome fighter, nobody’s denying that, however what I deliver to the desk in our struggle, he can’t cease. I’m coming in there to interrupt him. I’m coming into they acquired the win. I don’t suppose 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 with the intention to achieve success. So the boldness that I’ve, it’s all from coaching, it’s all from what I’m doing outdoors 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 neglected. 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 symbolize luta livre within the cage.
“Lots of people don’t know that [I’m a luta livre black belt], they suppose we don’t practice wrestling, however the actuality is that daily, what we’re doing probably the most is wrestling and grappling,” Pinedo stated. “That’s the place the power is available in for the academy that I practice at. And if the struggle goes there, then I’ve no reservations displaying the world my grappling recreation and popping out on high of the submission victory if I’ve to.”
PFL inked a broadcast cope with FOX Sports activities Mexico this previous March and firm CEO Peter Murray talked about the opportunity of launching a PFL Latin America league “as early as subsequent yr.”
Pinedo stated that the MMA scene in Peru is “rising yr over yr” despite the fact that it’s not a rustic crammed with elite fighters competing in world-class promotions, likes different Latin American nations reminiscent of Brazil and Mexico, however Peruvian fighters are “making some noise and so they’re making a reputation for themselves and representing the nation properly.”
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 in the future.
“That’s undoubtedly a dream of mine,” Pinedo stated. “It’s one thing that’s at all times high of thoughts. I’m hoping to chase this championship remaining on the planet match after which with two belts below the PFL banner I hope that that’s going to be sufficient to deliver the PFL present right here to Peru the place I can struggle. The long run is somewhat ambiguous, we don’t know the way issues are going to roll out, however I’m going to maintain doing my half and hold profitable 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.”
