Gabriel Braga is seeking revenge in his rubber match against Jesus Pinedo, which is set to co-headline PFL 5 in Nashville, Tennessee, this Thursday. The Brazilian fighter is clearly focused on avenging his previous loss.
These skilled featherweights initially fought in early 2023, resulting in a split decision win for Braga. However, Pinedo avenged that loss later the same year, winning the featherweight championship via a third-round stoppage. Now, they face off once more to determine who advances to this year`s tournament finals, and Braga showed intense energy during their fight week staredown.
Braga told MMA Fighting that he is bringing a new level of intensity to this bout. He explained that this focused, driven approach began as soon as the fight was scheduled, noting it`s a mindset he didn`t have for their prior encounters. He stated he`s approaching this fight differently, focusing on mental strength in addition to his physical and technical preparation, feeling more focused and motivated than ever.
According to Braga, Pinedo approached their November 2023 rematch with significant animosity, a feeling Braga says he now shares for their upcoming clash.
Braga stated he understands Pinedo`s past intensity and plans to reciprocate it on Thursday. He expressed frustration with Pinedo`s quiet demeanor during the faceoff, questioning why Pinedo talks trash publicly but remains silent when confronted directly. Braga mentioned challenging Pinedo to speak up during their staredown. Despite the annoyance, Braga affirmed his intense focus and preparation, asserting his readiness to prove his superiority in the fight.
Braga admitted his TKO loss to Pinedo was his most difficult professional defeat, primarily because it cost him the title and a million-dollar prize. He feels this loss significantly aided his maturity and is motivating him to pursue championship gold in the future.
Braga stated he has adopted a more aggressive approach. While winning is his ultimate goal, he emphasized a desire to inflict damage on Pinedo during the fight. He explained his current aggressive mindset means he doesn`t want the outcome decided by the judges. Instead, he aims to dominate every round, or finish Pinedo if he cannot withstand the pressure, asserting he will be the one to stop the fight.
