Jesus Pinedo Needed Seventy-Six Seconds to Settle the Braga
Jesus Pinedo knocked out Gabriel Braga in their PFL featherweight semifinal on June 12, 2025. The trilogy contest at Nashville Municipal Auditorium ended at 1:16 of the opening round, giving Pinedo a place in the World Tournament final.
A counter attack produced the immediate finish
Pinedo initially moved around the outside while Braga occupied the center. Both men tested opportunities with kicks before the decisive punching exchange developed.
Pinedo caught Braga advancing with a counter right hook, then connected again as the Brazilian became unsteady. Brief follow-up strikes completed the knockout before the first round had reached its halfway point.
The rivalry already included a championship reversal
Braga had defeated Pinedo during the opening stages of the 2023 PFL season. Pinedo recovered from that setback, defeated Brendan Loughnane and eventually stopped Braga to win the season’s featherweight championship.
The Nashville meeting therefore began with one victory apiece. Its quick conclusion gave Pinedo the competitive advantage across their three completed encounters, with both of his wins arriving through finishes.
Another tournament final followed the knockout
Pinedo had reached the semifinal by defeating Adam Borics earlier in 2025. Braga qualified by beating Frederik Dupras, setting up the third meeting between the rivals.
Movlid Khaybulaev’s separate semifinal victory over Taekyun Kim established the next assignment. Pinedo left Nashville with another championship opportunity after turning a familiar opponent’s forward attack into the opening he needed for an immediate finish.
Sources
- PFL: counter-right sequence, 76-second finish, rivalry and qualifying victories
- PFL: June 12 Nashville event and featherweight final pairing
