Jesus Pinedo has admitted his upcoming fight with PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane is bigger than any other in his career - even his UFC debut.
The Mexican featherweight will take on Loughnane in the second fight of the 2023 season, hoping to put an end to the Brit's long run of victories in the promotion. After tasting defeat by way of a razor-close split decision in round one, he needs a stoppage to even stand a chance at progression to the play-offs which would be a first in his rival's career.
And Pinedo believes the bout holds particular weight due to Loughnane's status as the promotion's champion, despite the belt not being presented to the winner. In the PFL format, the champion is crowned at the end of each season, and technically speaking the Manchester fighter's title win last year doesn't mean he is still holding the belt for 2023.
"I know Brendan is definitely a popular fighter and a fan favourite," Pinedo told Mirror Fighting via a translator. "He's entering this fight as the favourite over me, I think a lot of fans are going to pick Brendan over myself, but when I was offered the fight I accepted it with a smile on my face.
"This is a fight that excites me, a fight that when I'm training it makes me want to put the most amount of effort in and I want to be ready for it. I know that I'm going to win over a lot of new fans when I get this victory - this is definitely the biggest fight of my career and I really want to get this job done on June 8.
"I wouldn't feel that I'm the champion when I get this win, even though Brendan won last year. But it is a stepping stone to where I want to be which is the 2023 PFL season champion. The points system is in the back of my mind but regardless, I'll always come to fight my fight which is to come and take someone's head off whether that be first, second or third."
Loughnane is not taking the challenge of Pinedo lightly either, despite feeling he has reached a peak in his career . He turned around from an hectic 2022 season that saw him compete four times, three of which went the three-round distance, within five months for the start of this effort, and is keen to regain his belt with another million in the bank.
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"He's 20-6 as a pro so he's very experienced but he's only 26-years-old so he's got youth on his side," Loughnane said of the match-up. "He's a six-foot southpaw which poses its own problems and he's very tough, it's a tough fight because there are no easy fights this year so I'm just going to treat it like the rest and train my a*** off.
"It took a few adjustments in my training and my mindset but I've got them done and I really feel like I've reached a pivotal point, a peak in my career and I think it's time to look at the word legacy. I mean it, because I've got the money, I've got the world title and now I'm like 'right, I've got to get two of them'.
"I want to be that guy that doubled up because to be a two-time featherweight champion in the PFL you have to win eight fights consecutively to be two-time. In UFC you win a belt, defend it, that's just one or two fights and this time it's eight that's really difficult to do, so it's going to put me in the elite of the elite."
