2022 PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane may have been looking a bit past his PFL 4 opponent Jesus Pinedo. Loughnane had said he didn’t know much about his opponent Jesus Pinedo coming in, but most MMA fans do after this performance.
Jesus Pinedo Causes Massive Upset
The fight started with Pinedo implementing his awkward movement and stance switches. Pinedo rushed in with a couple of jabs and left hooks, the last of which connected with Loughnane’s body. Loughnane applied the pressure and kept Pinedo against the cage, where he was constantly moving. Pinedo rushed in with another set of punches which Loughnane evaded and attempted to clinch, which Pinedo shook off. The two men then went to the center of the cage and exchanged big right hands with Loughnane getting the better. Pinedo shrugged his arms and then ate a leg kick, returning with a check right hook.
Pinedo then landed a big left hand from distance that got a bit of a reaction out of Loughnane. Loughnane established the center of the cage before being blitzed by Pinedo again. This time, Loughnane attempted to clinch and land a big right hand off the break, but this plan backfired when Pinedo threw a clean left knee that instantly dropped Loughnane to his side. Pinedo jumped right on Loughnane and followed up with 5 big shots that forced referee Keith Petersen to step in.
Pinedo becomes the first person to finish Brendan Loughnane in his 30-fight career and has picked up the biggest win of his own 25+ fight career. The finish came at just 1:34 of the 1st round.
Featherweight Playoffs Set
This fight wrapped up the 2023 regular season for featherweights in the PFL. Jesus Pinedo clinched the 4th seed of the Playoffs with this win, and all take on 1 seed Bubba Jenkins in the Semifinals. The other side of the bracket sees 2nd seeded Gabriel Braga fresh off his 1st-round KO over Marlon Moraes taking on the #3 seeded Russian standout and 2021 tournament winner Movlid Khaybulaev. The fights are set to take place at PFL 7 on August 4th in San Antonio, Texas.
