PFL’s Jesus Pinedo talks big game before Gabriel Braga trilogy

Jesus Pinedo wants to leave no doubt he’s the better fighter in his rivalry with Gabriel Braga.

Pinedo, the 2023 PFL featherweight champion, is tied up at 1-1 with Braga, and the two will get a chance to settle the score in the semifinals of the 2025 PFL featherweight tournament.

Pinedo (24-6-1) and Braga (16-2) first fought in 2023, with Braga coming out on top in a close decision win. A few months later, they rematched in the final of the 2023 season, with Pinedo avenging his loss by third-round TKO to claim the 2023 PFL featherweight title and $1 million prize.

This time around, the Peruvian wants to show the MMA world that he’s vastly superior to Braga and close out the trilogy with a definite win.

“Braga is a tough fighter. No one can say otherwise,” Pinedo told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “He has a good record, he’s been winning his fights, but I have to be sincere: I think I will finish him quick. I know he’s a tough guy, but I’m going to make it look easy.”

Pinedo vs. Braga 3 is one of the most anticipated bouts of the 2025 PFL tournament series. It got a lot of fans talking after watching the two win their respective bouts at 2025 PFL World Tournament 1 earlier this month, and then face off in an intense staredown.

Pinedo vs. Braga III is OFFICIAL! The trilogy we needed to see! 1-1. The final chapter begins with FIRE in their eyes. 🔥🇵🇪🇧🇷#PFLWorldTournament
🇺🇸 LIVE NOW | ESPN2 & ESPN+
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/yhucOjl3nu

— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 4, 2025

Braga was very aggressive during the staredown, but “El Mudo” was in no way intimidated by the Brazilian.

“No, the truth is that I wasn’t bothered,” Pinedo explained. “I know how it feels. I know that he has all the pressure on him. I’m coming off beating him and, in my opinion, the two times we fought I won them both with the last one being more dominant. He has the pressure. He knows what he’s dealing with. He knows who I am. I just hope he’s ready.”

Pinedo is, in the eyes of many, the favorite to win this year’s PFL featherweight tournament. It’s a much more different position than when he first entered the promotion as an unknown and unproven fighter in 2023.

“I feel like everyone know sees me with different eyes, and that’s recent,” Pinedo said. “Even after this fight, people are realizing that none of this was a coincidence. It’s all hard work. People know me and that motivates me because now nobody is going to underestimate me. I have to train very hard. Fights are going to be even harder now.”