Jesus Pinedo (born June 22, 1996) is a Peruvian

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who competes in the

Featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, ...

division of

Professional Fighters League The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promot ...

(PFL). He won the 2023 PFL Featherweight Championship. In October 2023, Pinedo reached No. 10 in World Featherweight rankings according to

Fight Matrix Fight Matrix is a mixed martial arts ranking system portal. It is one of the sport's most recognized ranking websites. Software According to website, "The rankings on this site are software generated, produced by a proprietary engine (CIRRS � ...

Background

Jesus Pinedo closely associated with coach Iván Ibérico, a renowned MBA figure in Peru, and has maintained a strong bond since the age of 16–17. While martial arts have been a lifelong passion, the individual initially dabbled in various contact sports from a tender age of 5 or 6, sporadically engaging in disciplines such as judo and karate during vacations or brief periods throughout the year. Unlike his peers who favored soccer, Pinedo's inclination towards mixed martial arts became evident early on, steering their sporting trajectory in a distinct direction. He was involved in fighting in his youth, leading to his father putting him into pre-military boarding school.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Pinedo's handlers embraced the baptism-by-fire approach, leading him to make his professional debut just under a month after his 17th birthday. On July 17, 2013, he showcased his skills by swiftly dispatching Luigi Dapello with first-round punches at a regional event. During his teenage years, Pinedo fearlessly stepped into the ring 14 times, amassing a commendable record of 9–4–1 in those early battles. His name, "El Mudo," has become synonymous with success, as he claimed titles in both the 300 Sparta and Inka Fighting Championship organizations. Pinedo's crowning moment came when he secured the IFC featherweight championship, forcing Joackim Pedro Neto Ferreira to tap out to a guillotine choke in the first round of their February 2018 clash. Just four months later, he added another feather to his cap by clinching the 300 Sparta featherweight title, unleashing a barrage of second-round punches that spelled the end for Carlos Alexadre.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Pinedo made his UFC debut replacing an injured Claudio Puelles against

Devin Powell Devin Powell (born March 1, 1988) is an American retired mixed martial arts fighter who competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator MMA. Background A once-aspiring professional guitarist who played in a ...

on November 17, 2018 at

UFC Fight Night 140 ''UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 140'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on November 17, 2018 at Estadio Mary Terán de Weiss in Buenos Aires, ...

, winning the fight via unanimous decision. Pinedo once again replaced an injured fighter, this time

Nasrat Haqparast Mohammad Nasrat Haqparast (born August 22, 1995) is an Afghan mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Haqparast was born in Germany to Afghan parents from ...

, against

John Makdessi John Makdessi (born May 3, 1985) is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Makdessi was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 3, ...

on March 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 148, losing the fight via unanimous decision. Days after the Peruvian fighter broke ties with the Iridium Sports agency, owned by well-known manager Jason House, the UFC let go of Pinedo.

Professional Fighters League

After winning his next 4 bouts on the Peruvian regional scene all by stoppages, Pinedo made his PFL debut against Gabriel Alves Braga on April 1, 2023 at PFL 1, losing the close bout via split decision. Pinedo faced

Brendan Loughnane Brendan Loughnane (born December 5, 1989) is a British professional mixed martial artist. He competes in the Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Loughnane has been a professional competitor since 2010, and competed i ...

on June 8, 2023 at PFL 4. He won the fight via knockout early into the first round, becoming the first fighter to finish Loughnane in his MMA career. In the Featherweight semi-finals, Pinedo faced

Bubba Jenkins Bubba Jenkins (born February 5, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist and former amateur wrestler. He currently competes in the featherweight division. He has also notably competed for Bellator MMA, Absolute Championship Berkut, Professiona ...

in the main event at PFL 7 on August 4, 2023. At weigh-ins, Jesus Pinedo weighed in at 146.4 pounds, 0.4 pounds over the Featherweight limit. He was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to his opponent Jenkins, and he started the bout with a one point subtraction. Pinedo went on to win the bout via TKO in the second round. Heading into the finals of the featherweight tournament, Pinedo rematched Gabriel Alves Braga on November 24, 2023, at PFL 10. He avenged the previous loss and won the bout by TKO stoppage at the beginning of the third round to win the 2023 PFL Featherweight Championship and $1 million collective dollar prize. Pinedo was scheduled to face Bellator Featherweight Champion

Patrício Pitbull Patrício Andre de Sousa Freire (born July 7, 1987), known professionally as Patrício Pitbull, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Champi ...

in a 3 round non-title crossover fight, on February 24, 2024, at PFL vs. Bellator. However, Pinedo pulled out a week before the fight with a back injury. Pinedo was scheduled to face

Jeremy Kennedy Jeremy Michael Fitz-Kennedy (born September 16, 1992) is a Canadians, Canadian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division of Bellator MMA. In addition to competing for Bellator, Kennedy has also c ...

on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10. However, Pinedo withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Gabriel Alves Braga. On February 12, 2025, the promotion officially revealed that Pinedo will join the 2025 PFL Featherweight Tournament. In the opening round, he faced

Ádám Borics Ádám Borics (born July 7, 1993) is a Hungarian Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League. He previously competed for Bellator MMA. Early life ...

at PFL 1 on April 3, 2025. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. In the semifinals, Pinedo faced Gabriel Braga in a rubber match at PFL 5 (2025) on June 12, 2025. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

** 2023 PFL Featherweight Championship *Inka Fighting Championship ** IFC Featherweight Championship (One time) * 300 Sparta ** 300S Featherweight Championship (One time) *''

MMA Fighting ''MMA Fighting'' is a news website that covers the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). Founded in 2001, the site is notable for its breaking news coverage, podcast series, and ''The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani''. Overview ''MMAFighting.com'' ...

'' **2023 Second Team MMA All-Star

Mixed martial arts record

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Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

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Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...

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Lima Lima ( ; ), founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes (, Spanish for "City of Biblical Magi, Kings"), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rive ...

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 19–5–1 , Elicardo Silva , KO (punches) , Arena Global 10 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:15 ,

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

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, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 17–5–1 , Jose Luis Alegre , TKO (punches) , Iquitos Combat Championship 6 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:37 ,

Iquitos Iquitos (; ) is the capital city of Peru's Maynas Province, Peru, Maynas Province and Loreto Region. It is the largest metropolis in the Peruvian Amazon, east of the Andes, as well as the List of cities in Peru, ninth-most populous city in Peru ...

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, Argentina , , - , Win , align=center, 15–4–1 , Carlos Alexandre , TKO (punches) , 300 Sparta 26 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:13 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 14–4–1 , Joackim Neto , Submission (guillotine choke) , Inka FC 27 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:25 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 13–4–1 , Jefferson Angulo , Submission (triangle choke) , EMMA 11 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:46 ,

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, Ecuador , , - , Win , align=center, 12–4–1 , Alonso Verona , Submission (triangle choke) , Redemption Fighters 3 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:18 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 11–4–1 , Guilherme Cadena , TKO (punches) , 300 Sparta 12 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:04 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, , Marcelino Cavalcante , TKO (punches) , 300 Sparta 11 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:17 ,

, Peru , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–4–1 , Alonso Verona , KO (punches) , Inka FC: Warriors 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:09 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3–1 , Federico Gentiluomo , Decision (unanimous) , Arena Tour 7 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Argentina , , - , Win , align=center, 8–3–1 , Cicero Coutinho , TKO (punches) , Inka FC: Warriors 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:37 , Trujillo, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 7–3–1 , Jonathan Ortega , TKO (punches) , Arena Tour 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, , Cordoba, Argentina , , - , Win , align=center, 6–3–1 , Sidney Guzman , Submission (armbar) , Peru FC 19 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:49 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 5–3–1 , Jack Guzman , TKO (punches) , Inka FC: Warriors 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:18 ,

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Humberto Bandenay Humberto Bandenay (born September 4, 1994) is a Peruvian mixed martial artist (MMA) who is best known for competing in the Featherweight division in the UFC. Mixed martial arts career Early career Bandenay started his professional MMA career i ...

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, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 4–1 , Victor Arata , Decision (unanimous) , Inka FC 25 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Marlon Gonzales , Decision (unanimous) , 300 Sparta 5 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Peru , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–1 , Jose Manuel Guevara , Decision (unanimous) , 300 Sparta 4 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Miguel Morales , Decision (unanimous) , 300 Sparta 3 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Peru , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Luigi Dapello , TKO (punches) , 300 Sparta 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:23 ,

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pinedo, Jesus 1996 births Living people People from Callao Peruvian male mixed martial artists Featherweight mixed martial artists Professional Fighters League male fighters