The trilogy bout between Gabriel Braga and Jesus Pinedo co-headlines PFL 5 this Thursday in Nashville, Tenn., and the Brazilian is out for vengeance.
The proficient featherweights first met in early 2023, with Braga strolling away with a break up choice victory, however Pinedo had the final chuckle later that yr, claiming the 145-pound championship with a third-round stoppage. They meet once more for a spot within the finals of this yr’s featherweight match, and Braga introduced the warmth within the combat week staredown.
“That is the vibe I’m bringing for this combat,” Braga advised MMA Combating. “From the second I knew I used to be going to combat him, I used to be on that vibe, that depth, one thing I haven’t achieved for our earlier fights. Now I’m going with a unique sport, not solely bodily and technical, but in addition psychological. I’m coming extra targeted and hungrier for this combat.”
Braga mentioned that Pinedo got here again “with extra hate” for the rematch in November 2023, and that’s the identical feeling he has in his coronary heart now.
“I understand how he felt, and I’m going to indicate that on Thursday,” mentioned Braga, who was aggravated by Pinedo’s silence throughout the faceoff. “That’s why it pisses me off as a result of in entrance of others he desires to speak shit, however when he has to speak in entrance of me he’s silent? I advised him [Monday], ‘Hey, you want speaking and now you’ll keep quiet? Say one thing.’ However that’s it, man. I’m tremendous targeted. I’m extra ready than ever. I wish to obtained right here on Thursday and present I’m higher than him.”
Braga admits the TKO loss to Pinedo, his first within the sport, was the one which harm probably the most because it was for a title—and a million-dollar prize. It helped him “mature” loads, Braga mentioned, and bounce again for the gold in 2025.
“I’m extra aggressive,” Braga mentioned. “To have my fingers raised after the combat is what issues to most to me, clearly, however I wish to harm him there. I’ve a really aggressive mindset now. I don’t wish to go away it to the judges. I don’t wish to enable different individuals to provide him the win. I wanna go there and dominate all rounds, if he can take it. But when he doesn’t, he’ll get completed first. I’ll cease him first.”
