Jesus Pinedo is preparing for a crucial victory when he steps into the cage against Gabriel Braga on June 12th in Nashville. This fight is significant as the winner will secure a spot in the finals of the 2025 PFL featherweight tournament.
Their history includes two prior meetings. The first was in April 2023, when Braga, as a last-minute replacement in Las Vegas, won by split decision. Their highly anticipated rematch took place eight months later for the 145-pound championship, where Pinedo emphatically claimed the $1 million prize with a third-round knockout.
Officially, the series record stands at 1-1 heading into PFL 5 on Thursday. However, the Peruvian talent strongly disputes this tally.
“You’ve heard me state this before, and I will continue to assert it indefinitely: I absolutely did not lose that initial fight against Gabriel Braga,” Pinedo conveyed through an interpreter. “Right now, I genuinely believe I am 2-0 against him, and come June 12th, I will make it 3-0. I fully intend to go in there, finish him, secure the stoppage, and move forward to the finals.”
Pinedo described the Brazilian competitor as a “very respectable opponent” but anticipates achieving another definitive finish. This would pave his way to the $500,000 championship clash against whoever emerges victorious from the Movlid Khaybulaev versus Tae Kyun Kim bracket.
“When we face off, I am entering the cage to break him and earn my guaranteed position in the finals,” Pinedo declared. “Gabriel’s significant strength is his fight IQ; there’s no denying he is a skilled fighter. However, what I bring to our contest is something he won’t be able to stop. I am coming in there focused on breaking him. I don’t believe he possesses the strategic depth to figure me out because my style is quite unique. Therefore, the victory on June 12th will be mine.”
He further elaborated on his mindset: “I am perpetually confident, but this confidence doesn’t arise from defeating specific opponents or accumulating wins. My confidence is forged every morning when I wake up at 4:30 AM, embark on my run, and execute all the necessary repetitions required for success. So, the confidence I carry is entirely derived from my training, from everything I meticulously do outside the competition cage—that is its true origin.”
Although 15 of his 24 professional victories have come by knockout, Pinedo believes his ground game is often undervalued. His last victory via submission occurred in 2018, during his tenure as the Inka FC champion in his native Peru, and he takes pride in representing luta livre within the sport.
“Many people are unaware that I am a luta livre black belt,” Pinedo mentioned. “They might assume we neglect wrestling, but the reality is, wrestling and grappling constitute the bulk of our daily practice. This is a fundamental strength of the academy where I train. Should the fight transition to the ground, I have absolutely no reservations about showcasing my grappling prowess to the world and achieving a submission victory if the opportunity arises.”
In related news, PFL finalized a broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Mexico in March. PFL CEO Peter Murray also mentioned the potential for launching a PFL Latin America league, possibly “as early as next year.”
Pinedo commented that the mixed martial arts landscape in Peru is demonstrating “year-over-year growth.” He acknowledged that while the country may not yet boast the same concentration of elite fighters competing in premier promotions as nations like Brazil and Mexico, Peruvian fighters are nevertheless “generating buzz, establishing their names, and representing their country admirably.”
As of now, PFL has not formalized plans for a Latin America event in 2026. However, Pinedo expressed a profound aspiration to become the figurehead for such a venture and potentially headline a PFL event hosted in Peru someday.
“That is unequivocally a lifelong dream,” Pinedo affirmed. “It remains constantly at the forefront of my thoughts. My immediate focus is on pursuing this championship final in the world tournament. I sincerely hope that having secured two belts under the PFL banner will be sufficient leverage to bring a PFL event here to Peru, allowing me to compete at home. The precise future trajectory is somewhat uncertain, but I am committed to fulfilling my role by continuing to win and striving to become a champion. I understand that this path is the sole means of strengthening the case for PFL to ultimately come to Peru.”
Murray Blackwood