Daniel Pineda (fighter)

Background

Born in Dallas and raised in Waller, Texas, Pineda wrestled in high school for three years before he began training in mixed martial arts at 21.

Mixed martial arts career

Legacy Fighting Championship

Pineda was the Featherweight Champion of Legacy Fighting Championship. None of his fights with Legacy went to decision with notable wins over fighters such as WEC veteran Frank Gomez. Pineda's fights with Legacy Fighting Championships were always exciting and his last fight with Legacy Fighting Championships before he went to the UFC ended in a TKO by spinning backfist at Legacy Fighting Championships 9.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In early January 2012, it was announced that Pineda had been signed to the UFC.

He made his debut on January 20, 2012, at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller against fellow UFC newcomer Pat Schilling. Pineda won the fight via submission in the first round.

Pineda faced Mackens Semerzier on March 3, 2012, at UFC on FX 2, replacing an injured Robbie Peralta. He won the fight via triangle armbar in the first round.

Pineda faced Mike Brown on May 26, 2012, at UFC 146. Pineda lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Pineda faced Antonio Carvalho on July 21, 2012, at UFC 149, replacing an injured George Roop. Pineda lost the fight after he was knocked out for the first time in his professional MMA career.

Pineda returned after a layoff to face Justin Lawrence on April 13, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Pineda won the fight via submission in the first round, earning Submission of the Night honors for his performance.

Pineda faced Diego Brandão on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26 He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

Pineda faced Robert Whiteford on March 15, 2014, at UFC 171. He lost the fight via unanimous decision, and was subsequently released from the UFC.

Return to Legacy FC

Following his UFC release, Pineda re-signed with Legacy Fighting Championships in July 2014.

Pineda faced Leonard Garcia at Legacy FC 37 on November 14, 2014. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Pineda next faced Thomas Webb at Legacy FC 39 on February 28, 2015. He won the fight via submission early in the first round.

Return to Bellator MMA

After nearly a six-year absence, Pineda returned to the Bellator MMA promotion in 2016. He faced Emmanuel Sanchez on the main card at Bellator 149 on February 19, 2016. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Pineda faced Mark Dickman at Bellator 161 on September 16, 2016. He won the fight via submission in the third round.

Pineda faced Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 182 on August 25, 2017. He lost the fight via doctor stoppage in the second round due to a cut.

Professional Fighters League

Pineda joined Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2019 and fought Movlid Khaybulaev and Jeremy Kennedy at PFL. He won both of the bouts on the same night; however it was ruled no contest after Pineda failed a drug test and was subsequently suspended and fined $12,500 by NAC.

Return to the UFC

Pineda re-signed with UFC in June 2020.

Pineda faced Herbert Burns on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Pineda faced Cub Swanson on December 12, 2020, at UFC 256. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

Pineda faced Andre Fili on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190. Early in round two, Pineda was accidentally poked in the eye and was deemed unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest.

A urine sample Pineda produced on fight night tested positive for amphetamine, a banned substance under the NAC rules. As a result, Pineda was handed a nine-month suspension in September 2021, retroactive to the positive test. He was also fined a total of $2,554.38, accounting for the violation and subsequent legal fees.

Pineda was scheduled to face Jamall Emmers on May 14, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 36. However, the bout was scrapped in late April for unknown reasons.

Pineda faced Tucker Lutz on March 25, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Pineda faced Alex Caceres on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. The win earned Pineda his first Fight of the Night bonus award.

Pineda was scheduled to face Khusein Askhabov on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. However on September 11, Askhabov has been arrested after being connected to the kidnap and torture in Thailand and the bout was cancelled.

Pineda faced Nathaniel Wood on July 27, 2024, at UFC 304. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Pineda faced Darren Elkins on October 19, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 245. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and retired from mixed martial arts competition after the bout. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

Personal life

Pineda and his wife have a daughter born in 2020.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Submission of the Night (One time) vs. Justin Lawrence
  • Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Herbert Burns and Tucker Lutz
  • Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Alex Caceres & Darren Elkins
  • Tied (Chas Skelly, Makwan Amirkhani, Brian Ortega & Youssef Zalal) for second most submissions in UFC Featherweight division history (4)
  • UFC.com Awards
    • 2020: Ranked #9 Upset of the Year vs. Herbert Burns
• Legacy Fighting Championship
  • Legacy FC Featherweight Championship (One time)
  • Two successful title defenses
• Fury FC
  • Fury FC Interim Featherweight Championship (One time)
  • Fury FC Lightweight Championship (One time)
• Katana Cagefighting
  • KC Featherweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

|ko-wins=9 |sub-wins=19 |dec-wins=0 |ko-losses=3 |sub-losses=6

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| |Manchester, England | |- |Loss |Alex Caceres |Decision (unanimous) |UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi | |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| |San Antonio, Texas, United States

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |Herbert Burns |TKO (elbows) |UFC 252 | |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| | Humble, Texas, United States

| | Humble, Texas, United States

| | Humble, Texas, United States

| | Houston, Texas, United States

| | Verona, New York, United States | |- | Win | Mark Dickman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 161 | | Cedar Park, Texas, United States

| | Houston, Texas, United States

| |Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |- |Win |Thomas Webb |Submission (triangle choke) |Legacy FC 39 | |Houston, Texas, United States

| |Houston, Texas, United States

| |Dallas, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |Diego Brandão |Decision (unanimous) |UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen | |Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |- |Win |Justin Lawrence |Submission (kimura) |The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen Finale | |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| |Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |- |Loss |Mike Brown |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 146 | |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |Mackens Semerzier |Submission (triangle-armbar) |UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann | |Sydney, Australia | |- |Win |Pat Schilling | Submission (rear-naked choke) |UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller | |Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |- |Win |Gilbert Jimenez |TKO (spinning backfist) |Legacy FC 9 | |Houston, Texas, United States

| |Houston, Texas, United States

| |Houston, Texas, United States

| |Houston, Texas, United States

| |Houston, Texas, United States

| |Grand Prairie, Texas, United States | |- |Win |James King |TKO (punches) |KOK 8: The Uprising | |Austin, Texas, United States | |- |Win |Douglas Frey |Submission (heel hook) |SWC 9: Redemption | |Frisco, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |Chas Skelly |Submission |SWC 8: Night of Rumble | |Frisco, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |Johnny Bedford |Submission (triangle choke) |SWC 7: Discountenance | |Frisco, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |Kyle Miers |Submission (rear-naked choke) |International Xtreme Fight Association | |Vinton, Louisiana, United States | |- |Loss |Roberto Vargas |Decision (unanimous) |Bellator 6 | |Robstown, Texas, United States | |- |Win |Johnny Bedford |Submission (kneebar) |SWC 3: St. Valentine's Day Massacre | |Frisco, Texas, United States | |- |Win |Ira Evanson |Submission (armbar) |Katana Cagefighting | |Robstown, Texas, United States

| |Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | |- |Win |Vince Libardi |TKO (punches) |South Coast Promotions | |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |John Alvarez |TKO (punches) |Katana Cagefighting | |Robstown, Texas, United States | |- |Win |Warren Stewart |TKO (punches) |Urban Rumble Championships 1 | |Pasadena, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |Lim Jae-suk |Submission (rear-naked choke) |EliteXC: Renegade | |Corpus Christi, Texas, United States

| |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |Warren Stewart |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Art of War 2 | |Austin, Texas, United States | |- |Win |Jeremy Mahon |Submission (rear-naked choke) |IFC: Caged Combat | |Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |Lightweight debut.

References

References

1. (September 14, 2018). "Daniel Pineda {{!}} UFC".
2. Sean Zerillo. (August 15, 2020). "Herbert Burns vs. Daniel Pineda Odds, Pick & Prediction: 'The Blaze' Has Little Betting Value At UFC 252". The Action Network.
3. (November 13, 2014). "Daniel Pineda looking to stay undefeated in Houston at Legacy FC 37 – TXMMA – Texas Mixed Martial Arts".
4. (January 10, 2012). "UFC on FX 1 adds Easton vs. Papazian, Schilling vs. Pineda". mmajunkie.com.
5. (February 6, 2012). "UFC on FX 2: Daniel Pineda replaces Robert Peralta, meets Mackens Semerzier". mmajunkie.com.
6. (March 14, 2012). "Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda added to May's UFC 146 event". mmajunkie.com.
7. (June 26, 2012). "George Roop out, Daniel Pineda meets Antonio Carvalho at UFC 149". mmajunkie.com.
8. (February 11, 2013). "Miller-Palaszewski, Pineda-Lawrence set for TUF 17 Finale in April". mmajunkie.com.
9. Andrew Saunders. (2013-04-14). "TUF 17 Finale Results: Recapping the Fight Night Bonuses". bleacherreport.com.
10. Staff. (June 5, 2013). "Diego Brandao vs. Daniel Pineda added to UFC on FOX Sports 1 1 in Boston". mmajunkie.com.
11. Staff. (January 19, 2014). "Daniel Pineda vs. Robert Whiteford added to UFC 171 in Dallas". mmajunkie.com.
12. MMAJunkie.com Staff. (July 14, 2014). "After UFC run, former two-division champ Daniel Pineda returns to Legacy FC". mmajunkie.com.
13. "LFC 37 - LEGACY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 37". sherdog.com.
14. (November 15, 2014). "Legacy FC 37 results: Daniel Pineda taps Leonard Garcia, 'Bad Boy' calls it a career". mmajunkie.com.
15. (February 28, 2015). "Legacy FC 39 results: Leonardo Leite claims belt with controversial finish". mmajunkie.com.
16. Mike Bohn. (September 16, 2016). "Bellator 161 results: Kongo takes decision over Johnson, Warren submits Kakai". mmajunkie.com.
17. Matt Erickson. (August 25, 2017). "Bellator 182 results: Ex-champ Andrey Koreshkov pounds out Chidi Njokuani in first round". mmajunkie.com.
18. (June 24, 2020). "Daniel Pineda re-signs with UFC, six years after release".
19. Raphael Marinho. (July 31, 2020). "Herbert Burns to face Daniel Pineda at UFC 252 on August 15th". sportv.globo.com.
20. Anderson, Jay. (August 15, 2020). "UFC 252 Results: Daniel Pineda Traps Herbert Burns in Crucifix, Smashes Way to Victory".
21. Lee, Alexander K.. (August 16, 2020). "UFC 252 bonuses: Newcomers Kai Kamaka, Tony Kelley earn Fight of the Night".
22. Andrew L. John. (November 11, 2020). "Cub Swanson set to return to UFC 256 against Daniel Pineda on Dec. 12". desertsun.com.
23. Doherty, Dan. (December 12, 2020). "UFC 256 Results: Cub Swanson Knocks Daniel Pineda Out on Injured Leg".
24. DNA, MMA. (June 11, 2021). "Andre Fili treft Daniel Pineda op 26 juni".
25. Anderson, Jay. (June 26, 2021). "UFC Vegas 30 Results: Andre Fili vs. Daniel Pineda Dazzles Until Eye Poke Results in No Contest".
26. (September 22, 2021). "Three UFC fighters suspended by NAC for positive drug tests including amphetamine, marijuana, more".
27. ATSteveDuncan. (February 2, 2022). "Jamall Emmers vs. Daniel Pineda agregado a UFC Fight Night del 14 de mayo".
28. Nolan King and Farah Hannoun. (2022-04-29). "Daniel Pineda vs. Jamall Emmers scrapped from UFC on ESPN 36". mmajunkie.usatoday.com.
29. Nolan King. (2023-01-04). "UFC on ESPN 43 adds Tucker Lutz vs. Daniel Pineda to San Antonio lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com.
30. Jay Anderson. (2023-03-25). "Daniel Pineda submits Tucker Lutz in return at UFC San Antonio".
31. Matt Erickson. (2023-03-25). "UFC on ESPN 43 bonuses: Early Comeback of Year candidate gets $50,000". mmajunkie.usatoday.com.
32. (2023-04-22). "Jim Miller set for 42nd UFC fight, meets Ludovit Klein in Las Vegas".
33. Richardson, Andrew. (2023-06-03). "Caceres Decisions Pineda In Wild Barn-Burner Brawl".
34. UFC Staff Report. (2023-06-03). "Bonus Coverage - UFC Fight Night - Kara-France vs Albazi". ufc.com.
35. (2023-08-16). "UFC books Daniel Pineda vs. Khusein Askhabov for October".
36. Leonard, Harvey. (2023-09-11). "UFC Fighter Khusein Askhabov Arrested In Connection To Kidnap & Torture Of A Man In Thailand".
37. Anderson, Jay. (2024-04-30). "Daniel Pineda vs. Nathaniel Wood Added to UFC 304".
38. Cade Morehouse. (2024-07-27). "Nathaniel Wood Takes Win at UFC 304, Daniel Pineda Drops Another Decision". cagesidepress.com.
39. Anderson, Jay. (2024-09-02). "UFC: Daniel Pineda vs. Darren Elkins Set for October 19".
40. Bryan Hester. (2024-10-19). "UFC Vegas 99: Darren Elkins Sends Daniel Pineda Into Retirement". cagesidepress.com.
41. Sayan Nag. (2024-10-20). "Daniel Pineda Announces Retirement After Battle Against Darren Elkins". sherdog.com.
42. Chris Taylor. (2024-10-19). "UFC Vegas 99 Bonus Report: Darren Elkins and Daniel Pineda earn FOTN honors". bjpenn.com.
43. (August 15, 2020). "Daniel Pineda wants to keep busy after UFC 252 win". mmajunkie.com.
44. UFC.com. (October 4, 2024). "UFC Stats - Featherweight Division". ufc.com.
45. Thomas Gerbasi. (December 22, 2020). "The 10 Best Upsets Of 2020". [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]].
46. Staff. (July 31, 2010). "Legacy Promotions 7/31/10 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com.
47. Staff. (December 6, 2008). "Katana Cagefighting - Conquest Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com.