Nashville, TN — As featherweight Jesus Pinedo prepares for his third matchup against Gabriel Braga at PFL Nashville, he makes a bold statement regarding their rivalry. Pinedo (24-6-1) confidently asserts, “Nothing changes for me depending on the rival. I know it’s always a tough fight, but I’ve been saying this all week: This isn’t 1-1, it’s 2-0. The first fight, I won it, I’m very confident about that,” he told Cageside Press and other media during the event’s media day on Wednesday. “And this week it will be 3-0.”
This confident declaration adds fuel to the fire for Braga, who is clearly motivated by Pinedo's words. Yet, Pinedo insists that his focus is not solely on his opponent but on a much bigger goal. “My final goal at the end of the day is winning the belt, and that’s the main reason why I’m here. Braga right now is in the way, but my main goal has always been the belt.” With this objective in mind, he predicts a decisive victory by stating, “First round knockout or early round two knockout.”
The topic of rivalry remains a focal point during the media day. Pinedo’s knockout forecast isn’t specifically aimed at Braga, whom he previously defeated in the 2023 PFL final. “For me it doesn’t really matter, it’s never anything personal. I’ve got a job to do here, and no matter who I’m fighting, it could be Braga, it could be Movlid Khaybulaev, it could be Tae-Kyun Kim, I’ll still knock out him. My main goal is just to win fights and advance.”
When questioned about improvements in his skill set since his last encounter in 2023, Pinedo highlights a significant change in mentality. “My mindset is the biggest change I’ve had in my career. Between these two years, I’ve learned a lot, I’ve trained a lot and that’s where you’ll see the biggest improvement from me. I’ll show that this Thursday.”
As Pinedo approaches this pivotal fight at PFL Nashville, he remains laser-focused on his ultimate goal—the PFL championship belt. His upcoming clash with Braga promises to be an electrifying encounter, and the stakes could not be higher. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Pinedo can deliver on his prediction and move one step closer to his championship aspirations.
Watch the full PFL Nashville media day appearance by Jesus Pinedo to gain more insights into his thoughts and preparations before the fight.
